Supreme Court restricts stay of Allahabad HC order against Gautam Buddha Nagar DM to strictures, costs

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Supreme Court. File | Photo Credit: PTI

The Supreme Court has restricted its September 23 interim order to staying Allahabad High Court’s strictures and award of costs against Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam in connection with the detention of Delhi University student Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act (NSA).

The earlier version of the order published on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) had reportedly said the “court is of the opinion that till the matter is heard on merits, the operation of the judgment, particularly paragraphs nos. 27 to 33, shall remain stayed.”

However, the current version reads the “court is of the opinion that till the matter is heard on merits, the operation of paragraphs nos. 27 to 33 of the judgment including award of costs and strictures against the petitioner shall remain stayed”.

The phrase ‘operation of the judgment’ is no more part of the judicial order.

The interim order was passed by a Bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and N.K. Singh.

On Thursday (September 24, 2026), an advocates’ group, Lawyers Association for Constitution, issued an open letter to the Chief Justice of India alleging “out-of-turn listing” and “special assignment” of the case to a “particular Bench”.

“The matter is also significant as the petitioner, who is a public servant, also happens to be the daughter of the Chief Election Commissioner of India (Gyanesh Kumar). The out-of-turn listing of the case has received special treatment and tends to set a wrong precedent,” the letter, circulated by Supreme Court advocate Subhash Chandran on instant messaging platform WhatsApp, said.

The letter also highlighted the “muting of the video conferencing facility” during the hearing of the case.

“Hearings in the court are public hearings. This is particularly facilitated by the video conferencing available to lawyers, journalists and litigants at large,” the letter said.

The case deals with Ms. Chaudhary’s detention under the NSA in connection with the Noida workers’ protest in April this year. The Allahabad High Court had quashed the detention and directed payment of a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the student, to be recovered from the salaries of Ms. Roopam and other officials involved. Ms. Roopam had appealed to the Supreme Court. An interim order was passed even as the top court is yet to hear her appeal on merits.

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