NOIDA: In a strong rebuke to the Uttar Pradesh administration, the Allahabad High Court has quashed the National Security Act (NSA) detention of Delhi University student Aakriti Chaudhary in connection with the Noida workers’ protest, terming the State’s version of the case a “concocted story”.
The court also ordered payment of ₹5 lakh as compensation, directing that the amount be recovered from the salaries of officials responsible for the detention, including the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar, Medha Roopam, according to the court’s directions.
The Bench questioned the prosecution’s reliance on alleged video evidence purportedly showing Chaudhary instigating violence during the protest. When the court sought production of the video, the State reportedly failed to place it before the Bench. The court consequently took a serious view of the basis on which the NSA action had been initiated.
The ruling has put the spotlight on the role of the district administration, with the DM among the officials facing financial liability under the court’s order.
Medha Roopam, the Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate, is the daughter of Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner of India. Her inclusion in the recovery direction has added a high-profile dimension to the court’s ruling.
The High Court’s order comes as a significant judicial check on the use of preventive detention laws, particularly where allegations of serious criminal conduct are relied upon to invoke the stringent NSA.