SC mutes hearing in Noida DM's challenge against fine over student's detention

The Supreme Court on Wednesday muted the hearing on Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam's plea challenging an Allahabad High Court order directing recovery of Rs 5 lakh from her and other officers involved in the alleged illegal detention of a Delhi University student under the National Security Act.The Supreme Court on Wednesday muted the hearing and closed VC access on its directions before reserving its order on a plea by Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam against an Allahabad High Court order directing recovery of Rs 5 lakh from officers involved in the detention of a Delhi University student under the National Security Act (NSA) during a workers’ protest in Noida.The Rs 5 lakh compensation was ordered to be recovered from all officers involved in building the case, ranging from District Magistrate Medha Roopam to the Station House Officer (SHO) who prepared the initial report.The Allahabad High Court, in its September 2 order, had cancelled the detention of Akriti Chaudhary, a 25-year-old Delhi University history graduate, and ordered her immediate release if she was not required in any other case.Roopam approached the Supreme Court against the High Court order, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for her. “I represent the DM, Noida. Without notice to her some strictures are passed and cost of 5 lakhs is imposed,” Mehta said. He argued that the role of a district magistrate in issuing a detention order was different from the subsequent judicial scrutiny of the detention.“It’s one thing to quash the order of detention and another to castigate the officer who has passed the order,” Mehta said, adding that there were “several layers” and “administrative hierarchical levels” before the district magistrate formed an opinion. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state, said the High Court’s order was “completely uncalled for”.Rohatgi alleged that the detainee had first been involved in protests in Manesar and later in Noida, where roads were blocked and there were incidents of arson and stone-pelting.“She is arrested on the 12th of April. A proposal for detention under NSA has to be moved from the SHO level. Finally the DM issues. It has to be affirmed by an advisory authority headed by a judge. Then state and central govt confirms. She is just one person in the chain,” Rohatgi said.He also challenged the High Court’s reasoning on the timing of the arrest, saying it had concluded that Chaudhary was arrested on April 11 because she had stopped responding to WhatsApp messages that evening.“The detention order was issued one month later. There’s complete misdirection of the law,” Rohatgi said.The Supreme Court thereafter reserved its order on Roopam’s plea seeking an interim stay on the Allahabad High Court order, including the direction for recovery of Rs 5 lakh from the officers involved in the case.- EndsPublished By: Sayan GangulyPublished On: Sep 23, 2026 15:38 IST