Noida labour protest: Allahabad High Court quashes detention of 25-year-old under NSA

The Allahabad High Court dismissed the detention of 25-year-old Akriti Chaudhary, a student and Delhi University graduate, under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), describing its use against her as "arbitrary and vague". Chaudhary was initially arrested on April 11 in connection with a Noida workers' protest held in April of the same year.

The government invoked the NSA on May 13, and she has been in custody in Kasna jail since then. The High Court bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev ruled on the order in court, with a fine print awaiting release. Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing Chaudhary, stated that the High Court imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the state for the unlawful detention.

The court also indicated that the penalty would be recovered from the officials involved in sanctioning the detention, ranging from the District Magistrate to the SHO. Chaudhary's lawyers argue that she was merely involved in the inauguration of a children's library for poor workers, not part of a violent movement as claimed by the police.

Chaudhary, who has been named in 11 FIRs, has secured bail in five cases but has pending bail pleas in six other FIRs. Her father, Arun Chaudhary, expressed his trust in the judiciary and his support for his daughter, who fought for the rights of the poor.