Allahabad HC rebukes UP police, awards ₹5 lakh to student detained under NSA

The Allahabad High Court on September 2 quashed the application of the National Security Act against student leader Akriti Choudhury, who was arrested during April's Noida labour unrest. The court awarded ₹5 lakh compensation to be paid by the District Magistrate and police officers, marking a rare instance of holding officials personally accountable.

Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev castigated the Noida police for "despotic conduct" and District Magistrate Medha Roopam for imposing NSA "without material on record" on the young student, calling her conduct "worthy of derision". The bench found that the DM violated the petitioner's constitutional rights.

Over 200 labourers and some leaders were arrested under stringent laws following the wage strike. The judgement represents the first instance where the court has imposed compensation on government officials for ignoring due process and running a repressive regime.