Supreme Court clarifies stay in Noida DM Medha Roopam’s plea, limiting it to Allahabad HC strictures and ₹5 lakh compensation direction

The Supreme Court has revised its interim order in the plea filed by Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam and clarified that the stay is confined to the adverse remarks against the officer and the direction to pay compensation to a student detained under the National Security Act (NSA).

The clarification means that the Allahabad High Court’s judgment quashing the detention of student Akriti Chaudhary has not been stayed and continues to operate.

The Bench of Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice N.K. Singh had earlier heard the petitions filed by Roopam and the State of Uttar Pradesh challenging the Allahabad High Court judgment.

The interim order initially uploaded by the Supreme Court had stated: “Till the matter is heard on merits, the operation of the impugned judgment, particularly, para Nos. 27 to 33 shall remain stayed.”

The order was subsequently revised to clarify the scope of the stay. The revised order states: “Till the matter is heard on merits, the operation of paras nos. 27 to 33 of the impugned judgment including award of costs and strictures against the petitioner shall remain stayed.”

Paragraphs 27 to 33 of the Allahabad High Court judgment contained adverse observations and strictures against the Noida District Magistrate and directed payment of ₹5 lakh compensation to Chaudhary. The High Court had directed that the compensation amount be recovered from Roopam’s salary.

The underlying case concerned Chaudhary’s detention under the NSA in connection with the Noida workers’ protest. The Allahabad High Court had quashed the detention and also directed payment of compensation to the student.

The revised Supreme Court order therefore makes clear that while the strictures against the District Magistrate and the compensation direction have been stayed pending consideration of the matter on merits, the portion of the High Court judgment quashing Chaudhary’s detention has not been stayed.

The Supreme Court is yet to hear the challenge on merits.

Background: the Noida protest and the NSA detention

She had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Allahabad High Court's order reprimanding her over the detention of Delhi University graduate Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act (NSA).

The development came 4 days after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana that the High Court ruling would be challenged before the Supreme Court.

The Allahabad High Court had recently quashed Chaudhary's detention under the NSA in connection with the Noida workers' protest in April 2026, during which demonstrations had turned violent. A Division Bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Achal Sachdev had directed that Chaudhary be released forthwith, unless required in any other case.

The Court had also directed payment of ₹5 lakh compensation to Chaudhary, with the amount to be recovered from the salary of the District Magistrate and all officers responsible for preparing the report that led to her detention under the NSA. The High Court had passed the order after questioning the material relied upon by the State to attribute a specific role to Chaudhary in the violence.

The Court had also made strong observations concerning the responsibilities of IAS and IPS officers, observing that their loyalty is towards the Constitution and not the political executive. It was further observed that every time bureaucrats and police officers ignore their oath and allegiance to India, people may view them as an oppressive vestige of the British Empire. The Court warned that failure to act against excesses by bureaucrats could reduce the State to an “Orwellian Dystopia.”

The division bench had also said that the freedom of speech and expression extends to coming out on the streets and peacefully agitating a cause. It added that citizens have a constitutional right to gather peacefully and agitate for their rights, and that this right cannot be curtailed merely on the basis of the State’s “subjective opinion” about a possible breach of peace. “Preventing people from gathering in public spaces or agitating their rights on the grounds of assumed breach of peace, would be throwing the baby out of the bath water,” Justice Atul Sreedharan, who authored the judgment, observed.

Why was Chaudhary detained?

Chaudhary is a History graduate from Delhi University. She was arrested in connection with cases arising from the workers' protest in Noida in April 2026 and was subsequently detained under the NSA.

The Uttar Pradesh government invoked the NSA against Chaudhary and journalist Satyam Verma on May 13. They were among seven activists arrested in connection with different cases arising from the protest. At the time, Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh had claimed that the police possessed “strong electronic and videographic evidence” against Chaudhary, Verma and several others arrested in connection with the cases.

The habeas corpus proceedings before the High Court concerned the legality of Chaudhary's continued detention under the NSA.

Noida workers' protest

The protest in Noida was held by workers in April 2026 over demands concerning employment and labour-related issues. The demonstrations later turned violent, with incidents of stone-pelting and damage to vehicles reported during clashes. The police subsequently registered multiple cases against protesters and others allegedly involved in the violence.

Chaudhary's detention under the NSA stemmed from the State government's allegations that she had played a role in instigating protesters during the demonstrations. The High Court, however, found the detention unsustainable and quashed the NSA order.

Case Title: Medha Roopam v. Akriti Chaudhary

Bench: Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and NK Singh

Order Date: September 23, 2026

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