Supreme Court Issues Notice To Centre, Ladakh UT On Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife’s Plea

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the central government and the Ladakh Union Territory on a plea challenging the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), The Times of India reported.

The plea was filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, seeking his immediate release after violent protests in Leh left four people dead.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, told the court that “law has been followed and grounds of detention supplied to Wangchuk.”

However, a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria refused to order the disclosure of detention grounds to Wangchuk’s wife and posted the matter for hearing on 14 October.

Wangchuk, a former educationist, was detained by police on 26 September, two days after protests erupted in Leh over demands for statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the 6th Schedule.

He was later transferred to a jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and booked under the NSA.

Authorities allege he “incited” violence, while Wangchuk's supporters claim that he had been leading a hunger strike advocating for statehood and constitutional safeguards.

A group of mostly young protesters later broke away from the peaceful agitation, clashing with security forces.

Following his arrest, Angmo approached the Supreme Court and also wrote to President Droupadi Murmu seeking intervention.

In a three-page letter to the President, she alleged a “witch-hunt” against her husband for championing Ladakh’s causes over the past four years and said she was unaware of his condition.

Gitanjali, CEO of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), also criticised the Centre, accusing authorities of police torture following the 24 September violence.

Comparing the situation to colonial India, she wrote on X: “Is India really free? In 1857, 24,000 Britishers used 135,000 Indian sepoys to oppress 300 million Indians under orders from the Queen. Today, a dozen administrators are misusing 2,400 Ladakhi police to oppress and torture 3 lakh Ladakhis under the orders of the MHA.”

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