SC Stays Allahabad HC Order Quashing Student’s NSA Detention and Fine on Noida DM
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Allahabad High Court’s directive requiring Noida District Magistrate Medha Roopam to pay Rs 5 lakh in compensation for the alleged illegal detention of DU student Akriti Chaudhary. The two-judge bench of Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice N Kotiswar Singh paused enforcement of the high court’s order, which had quashed Chaudhary’s detention and imposed the penalty on Roopam.
Supreme Court Halts Compensation Order for Noida DM
High Court’s Ruling on Illegal Detention
The Allahabad High Court had earlier quashed Chaudhary’s detention under the NSA and imposed a Rs 5 lakh compensation to be recovered from Roopam’s salary.
Advocates’ Arguments on Procedural Compliance
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Uttar Pradesh State, argued that Roopam acted on inputs from police reports, channelled through the SHO, DCP and Commissioner, besides subsequent review by the NSA Advisory Board. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta added that five procedural stages preceded the order and the DM formed her subjective satisfaction only after statutory safeguards.
Court’s Skepticism Toward Single Accountability
During the hearing, the bench orally observed that “we can’t isolate her… as fine of Rs 5 lakh,” signaling skepticism about holding Roopam solely accountable.
Roopam’s Defense and State’s Appeal
Roopam submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court on September 13, contesting the Allahabad High Court’s order mandating recovery of Rs 5 lakh compensation from her personal salary for the DU student Chaudhary, whose NSA detention was deemed unlawful.