What happened
Manisha Chauhan, a 25-year-old factory worker, was arrested by Uttar Pradesh police in connection with the Noida workers’ agitation. Chauhan approached the Allahabad High Court seeking clubbing of 11 FIRs registered against her.
Chauhan argued that the 11 FIRs relate to the same protest-related events between April 10 and April 13. Chauhan said chargesheets in some FIRs overlap in evidence and witnesses, and therefore all FIRs should be tried together.
Chauhan described worker agitation in the Noida industrial area as linked to demands including wage hikes, working hours, and overtime pay. Chauhan also alleged violence during a protest on April 13.
Chauhan claimed that some FIRs allege outsiders involvement and a coordinated misinformation network that allegedly “hijacked” protests, leading to arrests and repeated case registration.
Chauhan’s counsel argued that trial participation requires all accused to be present together for the consolidated trial to proceed. Chauhan’s counsel also argued that multiple FIRs can lead to repeated incarceration: bail granted in one FIR can be followed by filing of another FIR with similar charges, which makes bail ineffective in practice.
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