The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to November 24 the habeas corpus petition challenging the detention of Ladakh’s education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria granted the Union Territory administration two weeks to file its response. The petitioner has been allowed to file a rejoinder, if any, within one week thereafter.During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal pointed out a typographical error in the pleadings — noting that a reference cited as para 4 should correctly be para 3 on page 99. The Court permitted the correction.
Justice Kumar also flagged a broader concern linked to Section 251(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which mandates framing of charges within 60 days. He remarked that in a connected case, chargesheets were filed in 2023 but charges remain unframed, resulting in the continued incarceration of the accused. Seeking legal clarity on the issue, he requested Sibal to assist the Court and also involve Senior Advocate Nagamuthu.
The petition, filed by activist Gitanjali Angmo, challenges Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA). It states that he is currently lodged in a Jodhpur jail following violent clashes that erupted recently in Ladakh. The plea additionally seeks permission for Angmo to meet him and ascertain his well-being. The matter will now be taken up next month.
As the matter was taken up today, Gitanjali J Angmo has told the Supreme Court that her husband's detention is not based on genuine concerns of public order or security, but is a calculated attempt to silence a respected citizen exercising his right to dissent.
Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) following violent protests in Leh in September over demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Angmo, who had earlier assailed Wangchuk's detention, today sought to amend the plea to challenge his incarceration on merits after the grounds of detention were recently supplied to him.The Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria allowed Angmo's application seeking to amend the plea and asked the Union government to respond to the additional grounds raised by her.
"Leave of this court sought to amend the petition to place on record additional facts, documents and grounds. Petitioner permitted to amend the petition and file the amended copy within a week and amended counter to be filed within 10 days thereafter. Rejoinder if any within a week thereafter. List on November 24," the Court ordered.In an application seeking addition of grounds to challenge his detention, Angmo has referred to a series of actions taken against Wangchuk before his arrest, including the cancellation of the foreign funding certificate for his NGO.
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