Lawyers' body questions Supreme Court listing of petitions by Noida DM

The Lawyers Association for Constitution (LAFC) has written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant questioning the ‘out-of-turn’ listing of petitions filed by Noida District Magistrate Medha Roopam. The petitions challenge an Allahabad High Court ruling regarding the detention of student activist Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act (NSA).

The LAFC raised concerns that the matters were heard by a bench not typically assigned to preventive detention or habeas corpus cases according to the Supreme Court roster. The association also cited issues regarding restricted media access to video-conferencing feeds and the muting of audio during the proceedings, suggesting the circumstances gave an appearance of ‘special treatment’.

Medha Roopam is the daughter of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Supreme Court has since clarified that its current stay applies to strictures against Roopam and a compensation order, rather than the quashing of Chaudhary’s detention.