- Ladakh Protests Row: SC to Hear Plea Against Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s Detention on Feb 26
New Delhi, February 23: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on a petition challenging the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act to February 26. The plea has been filed by his wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, who has questioned the legality of his continued custody.
A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale deferred the matter as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was unavailable to present submissions on behalf of the Centre. The adjournment came after earlier proceedings in which the apex court had sought clarification from the Union Government regarding the possibility of reconsidering Wangchuk’s detention, particularly in view of concerns related to his health.
Representing the Centre, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj had earlier informed the court that Wangchuk was allegedly linked to the violence that erupted in Leh on September 24 last year. The unrest resulted in the death of four individuals and left 161 others injured. According to the government, Wangchuk was detained for allegedly instigating protests in a sensitive border region where law and order concerns intersect with national security considerations.
The Centre and the Ladakh administration have maintained before the court that the detention was ordered after following all procedural safeguards under the National Security Act. The Act empowers the Union and state governments to detain individuals to prevent actions deemed prejudicial to the defence of India or the maintenance of public order. The law allows preventive detention for up to 12 months, subject to review and revocation where applicable.
During previous hearings, Solicitor General Mehta had argued that Wangchuk allegedly attempted to mobilise young people for protests similar to those witnessed in Nepal and Bangladesh. It was further claimed that references were made to an agitation akin to the Arab Spring, which historically led to political upheavals in several countries in the Arab world.
However, Wangchuk, currently lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail, has categorically denied these allegations. In a statement issued on January 29, he rejected claims that he advocated the overthrow of the government and asserted his democratic right to express criticism and participate in peaceful protest.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, contended that the authorities relied on selective and “borrowed material,” including edited video clips, to influence the detaining authority. He argued that the detention was arbitrary and violated fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
Angmo has described her husband’s detention as illegal and disproportionate. In her plea, she emphasised Wangchuk’s long-standing contributions to education reform, grassroots innovation, and environmental conservation in Ladakh and across India. The petition states that it is implausible that a person recognised for decades at state, national, and international levels would suddenly be implicated in acts of violence.
Wangchuk was detained on September 26, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh turned tragic. The government alleges that he incited the unrest, while his legal team maintains that he publicly condemned the violence.
According to Angmo, Wangchuk expressed deep sorrow over the September 24 incident, describing it as one of the saddest days of his life. She stated that he had warned through social media posts that violence would derail Ladakh’s peaceful and sustained democratic efforts over the past five years.
The matter will now be taken up for further hearing on February 26, when the Supreme Court is expected to examine submissions from both sides in detail.