Public Interest Litigation Filed Against Detention of Sonam Wangchuk and Kargil Activists: Court to Decide Soon

New Delhi, 01-10-2024: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was taken into custody by Delhi Police during his march towards the capital to demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. The plea, filed by Haji Mustafa through Advocate Vikram Hegde, also seeks the release of members of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), who have been detained at the Singhu Border.

The petition calls for the immediate release of Wangchuk and other detained individuals, arguing that their detention violates fundamental rights. Additionally, it challenges the prohibitory order issued by the Delhi Police on September 30, 2024, which imposed restrictions leading to their detention. The petitioners have urged the court to quash the order.

A bench, led by Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, has scheduled the matter for hearing on October 3, 2024, provided the petitioner submits all necessary documents by 3:30 PM on Tuesday.

Sonam Wangchuk, along with 120 others, was detained on the night of September 30 during the ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra,’ a month-long protest march organized by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in coordination with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). The march was intended to highlight the demand for Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, which has been a key point of agitation for both LAB and KDA for the past four years.

An additional petition, filed by Azad through Advocate Kamlesh Kumar Mishra, also seeks the court’s permission for peaceful entry into Delhi to hold an environmental awareness march scheduled to conclude at Rajghat on October 2, 2024. This plea similarly challenges the prohibitory order restricting the marchers’ activities.

These petitions are part of a broader legal challenge against the restrictions and detentions faced by activists and participants in peaceful protests, including Wangchuk and the KDA members. The court’s decision in this matter could have significant implications for the rights to protest and assemble in the country.