Allahabad High Court Quashes Akriti Chaudhary’s NSA Detention, Orders DM to pay Rs 5 Lakh from her salary
The Allahabad High Court has cancelled the detention of 25-year-old student Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act (NSA), calling the detention arbitrary and vague.
Akriti was arrested in connection with a protest by labourers in Noida in April. The Uttar Pradesh government later invoked the NSA against her and kept her in Kasna Jail in Gautam Buddha Nagar.
The High Court has now held that her detention under the NSA was illegal and ordered her immediate release, unless she is required in another case.
What Happened to Akriti?
Akriti, originally from Durgapur in West Bengal and a Delhi University alumna, was first detained on April 11. On May 13, the Uttar Pradesh government invoked the NSA against her. She was subsequently detained in Kasna Jail.
Her detention was challenged before the Allahabad High Court through a habeas corpus petition. A bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Achal Sachdev heard the matter and passed the order on Wednesday.
The Uttar Pradesh government and police made several allegations against Akriti.
According to the government, Akriti was associated with an ideology that allegedly supports achieving its objectives through violent methods. The government also alleged that she had visited a library run by a co-accused in Karawal Nagar, Delhi, where plans for a violent movement were allegedly discussed.
The government further referred to a book titled Great Martyrs of the Indian Revolution, which it said had been recovered from Akriti and described as controversial literature.
The prosecution reportedly alleged that the events were part of a larger conspiracy planned in Karawal Nagar. However, Akriti’s defence presented a different version. Her lawyer said the gathering in Karawal Nagar was related to the inauguration of a library for children of poor labourers.
According to a PTI report, the High Court described the government’s version of events as a “concocted story.”
What Did the High Court Decide?
The High Court quashed Akriti’s detention order under the NSA and declared the detention illegal. The court also directed that she be released immediately, provided she is not wanted in connection with any other case.
The ruling means that the NSA detention order against Akriti can no longer be used to keep her in custody. Additional Government Advocate Nitesh Kumar Srivastava, who represented the Uttar Pradesh government, confirmed that the detention order had been quashed. However, he did not comment on the court’s observations or the compensation ordered by the court.
Court Orders ₹5 Lakh Compensation
One of the most significant parts of the ruling is the High Court’s direction to pay ₹5 lakh as compensation for Akriti’s unlawful detention. The court also directed that the amount be recovered from the salary of the District Magistrate (DM) of Gautam Buddha Nagar.
Such a direction is unusual. In cases where courts find government action to be illegal and award compensation, the payment is generally made by the state government. Ordering recovery from an individual official’s salary can indicate that the court has found the concerned official responsible for the decision or conduct that led to the unlawful detention.
What Does the Verdict Mean?
The Allahabad High Court’s decision has two major aspects. First, the court has cancelled Akriti’s detention under the NSA and ordered her release, subject to her status in the other criminal cases.
Second, the court has awarded ₹5 lakh compensation for her unlawful detention and directed that the amount be recovered from the salary of the Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate.
The case is significant because it raises questions about the use of preventive detention laws and the responsibility of government officials when a detention order is found to be unlawful.
