Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the Centre would challenge the Allahabad High Court’s decision to quash the detention of Delhi University student and activist Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act (NSA).
Mehta made the submission before a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
Referring to an earlier mention regarding a notice issued to a Greater Noida student for participating in a Cockroach Janta Party-led protest at Jantar Mantar, the Solicitor General clarified that the notice had been issued by an executive magistrate and not the Gautam Buddha Nagar district magistrate.
The CJI had earlier strongly criticised the Greater Noida executive magistrate for issuing the notice, questioning how the official “dared” to issue it despite an earlier order of the Supreme Court. The apex court said it would seek an explanation from the executive magistrate.
The bench also recalled the Allahabad High Court’s recent order quashing Chaudhary’s detention and awarding her compensation. In response, Mehta said, “That we are challenging.”
On September 2, the Allahabad High Court quashed Chaudhary’s detention under the NSA in connection with the April workers’ protest in Noida.
A division bench comprising Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev strongly criticised the manner in which the detention order was passed by the Gautam Buddha Nagar administration. The court warned that continued “despotic” conduct by officials could push Uttar Pradesh towards an “Orwellian Dystopia”.
The High Court also awarded Rs 5 lakh in compensation to Chaudhary and directed that the amount be recovered from the salary of Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam and other officers responsible for the detention proceedings, including the SHO.
Chaudhary, a history graduate of Delhi University, was arrested in connection with cases arising from the Noida workers’ protest in April 2026. The Uttar Pradesh Police subsequently invoked the NSA against Chaudhary and activist-journalist Satya Verma on May 13. Both were among several activists arrested in connection with the peaceful protest demanding higher wages.
The High Court also directed that its displeasure with the district magistrate and police officials involved in preparing the detention dossier be recorded in their service records.
The court observed that bureaucrats and police officers are entrusted with extensive powers because they carry the responsibility of protecting the constitutional and legal rights, dignity, honour and welfare of citizens.
