Ladakh violence: Supreme Court seeks Centre's response; to hear Sonam Wangchuk wife’s amended plea on November 24

NEW DELHI: : The Supreme Court on Wednesday took on record the amended petition filed by Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, challenging his detention under the national security act (NSA) and sought a response from the Centre and the union territory of Ladakh within ten days, according to PTI.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria directed solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the UT, to file their response and listed the matter for further hearing on November 24. The court also allowed senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Angmo, to file a rejoinder if required.


On October 15, the apex court had deferred the hearing after Angmo sought to file an amended plea with additional grounds challenging Wangchuk’s detention. The activist is currently lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail, Rajasthan.

The court had earlier noted that, as per an affidavit from the jail authorities, Wangchuk’s elder brother and lawyer had met him. During a previous hearing, Sibal had requested that Wangchuk be permitted to exchange notes with his wife, to which Mehta had said he had no objection.

The Supreme Court on October 6, issued notices to the Centre and the UT of Ladakh but declined to pass any order on Angmo’s plea seeking access to the grounds of detention.

Wangchuk was detained on September 26 under the NSA, two days after violent protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. The unrest left four people dead and 90 injured, and authorities accused the activist of inciting the violence.

Under the NSA, the government can detain individuals to prevent actions “prejudicial to the defence of India.” The law allows detention for up to 12 months, though it can be revoked earlier.

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