The Supreme Court on Monday entered the legal fray surrounding the detention of renowned climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, issuing notices to the Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh on a petition filed by his wife challenging his arrest under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).
A bench of the apex court has sought responses from the Union Home Ministry, the Ladakh administration, and the Superintendent of Police of Jodhpur Central Jail, where Wangchuk is currently held. The matter has been scheduled for a detailed hearing on October 14.
The hearing saw senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo, launch a sharp legal challenge. Mr. Sibal contended that the fundamental legal procedures had been flouted, as the "grounds of detention" – the specific reasons and evidence for invoking the NSA – had not been supplied to Wangchuk's family. This, he argued, violates the detainee's right to make an effective representation against the detention.
In response, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the authorities, stated that the grounds of detention had already been served to Wangchuk himself. However, acknowledging the family's plea, he assured the Court that he would "examine" the process of providing a copy to his wife.
Arrest Follows Leh Protests
Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on September 26, two days after violent protests rocked Leh. The police have accused him of "provoking the youth," which they claim led to the unrest. The NSA allows for preventive detention for up to 12 months without a formal charge sheet or trial, making the supply of detention grounds a critical procedural safeguard.
The protests were part of a long-standing agitation in Ladakh, which has gained momentum since the region was carved out of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir and made a Union Territory in 2019. The demonstration on September 24 was led by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), a key civil society group demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which would provide autonomy and protect land and cultural rights for the local tribal population.
Leave Your Comment