The Supreme Court issued a revised order on 15 March 2024, limiting its stay to the strictures and Rs 5 lakh compensation directed at Noida District Magistrate Medha Roopam, while leaving the High Court’s judgment that quashed student Akriti Chaudhary’s detention under the National Security Act intact.
The earlier stay had covered paragraphs 27 to 33 of the Allahabad High Court’s judgment, effectively suspending both the cost award and administrative directives against the DM. The revised wording narrows the stay to only those paragraphs, ensuring the rest of the judgment, including the quashing of the detention, remains operative.
Akriti Chaudhary, a 22‑year‑old engineering student, was held under the NSA before the High Court overturned the arrest, deeming it unlawful. By not staying that part of the judgment, the Supreme Court confirms that Chaudhary’s detention remains invalidated.
Medha Roopam, who had been criticised for her handling of Chaudhary’s case, faces a temporary suspension of the Rs 5 lakh punitive order. The stay preserves her salary while the Court examines the merits of the DM’s conduct.
Legal experts interpret the move as a cautious approach that protects administrative personnel from immediate financial penalties while allowing the Court to scrutinise the underlying facts. The next hearing, set for the coming week, will determine whether the compensation order stands.
As the narrative unfolds, the Supreme Court’s decision underscores the delicate balance between enforcing accountability and safeguarding officers from precipitous punitive measures during ongoing litigation.