New Delhi, September 23 (TNA) The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the operation of an Allahabad High Court order directing the Uttar Pradesh government to pay ₹5 lakh compensation to Delhi University student Akriti Chaudhary, who was allegedly detained illegally during a workers’ protest in Noida.
The High Court had ordered that the compensation amount be recovered from the salary of Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam and other officials involved in the detention proceedings.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said that the operation of the relevant portions of the High Court judgment would remain stayed until the matter is heard on merits. The court directed the respondents to file their replies within two weeks and listed the case for further hearing on October 7.
The case relates to Chaudhary’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA) following her arrest during a workers’ protest in Noida in April 2026. The Allahabad High Court had held the detention illegal, quashed the detention order and directed her release if she was not required in any other case.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court orally observed that the District Magistrate could not be viewed in isolation if the detention order had resulted from a multi-stage process involving several authorities. The observation came as the court considered Roopam’s challenge to the High Court’s directions.
The Supreme Court’s interim order does not finally decide the legality of Chaudhary’s detention or the liability of the officials. Those issues will be examined in detail when the matter is heard on merits.