NEW DELHI, Oct 14:
The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to October 15 the hearing on a plea filed by Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo challenging the climate activist’s detention under the National Security Act and seeking his immediate release.
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A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria posted the matter for hearing on Wednesday after senior advocate Kapil Sibal sought adjournment.
“The matter was called out. It was passed over at the request of counsel for the petitioner. Again the matter is called and a request is made by the counsel for the petitioner to adjourn the same for tomorrow with a further request to list on top of the board. List tomorrow, i.e., October 15, 2025 at the top of the list,” the bench said.
The top court on October 6 issued notices to the Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh. It, however, had refused to pass any order on Angmo’s plea for providing her the grounds of detention and posted the matter for hearing on October 14.
In her plea, Angmo has also questioned the decision to invoke the NSA against Wangchuk.
Meanwhile, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk indulged in “activities prejudicial to the security of the state, maintenance of public order and essential services” which led to his detention under the National Security Act, Leh District Magistrate has told the Supreme Court defending his order.
In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Leh DM denied that Wangchuk had been detained illegally or was being treated improperly under detention, and submitted that the grounds of detention along with the material were communicated to him.
Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union territory. The government had accused him of inciting the violence.
“It is submitted that the stated order of detention came to be passed by me after duly considering the material placed before me, as mandated under law, and after arriving at a subjective satisfaction on the circumstances that prevailed within the local limits of the jurisdiction where Sonam Wangchuk had been indulging in activities prejudicial to the Security of the State, Maintenance of Public Order and Services essential to the community as mentioned in the grounds of detention.
“I was satisfied and continue to be satisfied of the detention of the detenue,” Leh DM told the apex court.
The affidavit has been filed in response to Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo’s plea in the apex court challenging the climate activist’s detention under the National Security Act and seeking his immediate release.
The top court has been informed that Wangchuk was categorically informed of his detention under the National Security Act, 1980, as well as about his transfer to Central Jail, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
The same was also immediately communicated telephonically to his wife Geetanjali Angmo, which she has acknowledged in her petition, the affidavit said.
Wangchuk, is not lodged in a solitary confinement and is entitled to all rights available to a detenu including access to visitors, Jodhpur Central Jail superintendent has told the Supreme Court.
Wangchuk is lodged in the Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.
In an affidavit filed before the top court, the jail superintendent said that Wangchuk is not suffering from any chronic conditions and is medically sound and physically fit.
“The detenu was detained in a Standard Barrack in the General Ward, admeasuring 20 feet x 20 feet, where he continues to be detained till date and is the sole occupant of such prison barrack at present. In the interest of clarity, it is specifically stated that the detenu is not in a solitary confinement as he is entitled to all rights available to the detenues,” the affidavit said.
The affidavit has been filed in response to Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo’s plea in the apex court challenging the climate activist’s detention under the National Security Act, and seeking his immediate release.
The Jail Superintendent divulged that Wangchuk, being in completely normal health, is consuming a normal diet every day since his detention. (PTI)
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