SC to hear plea challenging Sonam Wangchuk’s detention
The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a plea filed by Gitanjali J Angmo, the wife of jailed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, against his detention under the National Security Act. A bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice PB Varale is likely to hear the matter.
On January 29, Wangchuk, who is under detention in Jodhpur Central Jail, denied allegations that he made a statement to overthrow the Government like Arab Spring, emphasising that he has the democratic right to criticise and protest. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Wangchuk’s wife, submitted that police have relied on a selective video to mislead the detaining authority.
It had also directed medical examination by a specialist doctor of the climate activist after he complained of stomach issues due to water contamination. Angmo’s claims the detention is illegal and an arbitrary exercise violating his fundamental rights. On November 24, the Supreme Court 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 Angmo.
On October 29, the court sought responses from the Centre and the Ladakh administration on an amended plea of Angmo. 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.
