The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned to December 8 the hearing on a plea filed by the wife of jailed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, terming his detention under the National Security Act as “illegal and an arbitrary exercise violating his fundamental rights.” A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria deferred the matter after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh, sought time to respond to the rejoinder filed by Wangchuk’s wife.
On October 29, the top court sought a response of the Centre and the Ladakh administration on an amended plea of Wangchuk’s wife. She said the unfortunate events of violence in Leh on September 24 cannot be attributed to the actions or statements of Wangchuk in any manner. Wangchuk himself condemned the violence through his social media handles and categorically stated that violence would lead to the failure of Ladakh’s “tapasya” and peaceful pursuit of five years, his wife said, adding that “it was the saddest day of his life”. 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.