Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing on Plea Against Sonam Wangchuk’s NSA Detention
ANI
The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned to January 8 the hearing of a plea challenging the detention of jailed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA). The petition has been filed by his wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, who has termed the detention illegal and an arbitrary violation of his fundamental rights.
A Bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice P B Varale deferred the matter, observing that more time was needed to go through the case records. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of Wangchuk, agreed to the adjournment.
The plea was earlier heard by a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria. On November 24, the apex court had deferred the hearing after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh, sought time to respond to the rejoinder filed by Angmo. Earlier, on October 29, the court had sought responses from the Centre and the Ladakh administration on the amended plea.
Wangchuk was detained under the NSA on September 26, following violent protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status, which resulted in four deaths and injuries to around 90 people. Authorities accused Wangchuk of inciting the violence.
Impact and Legal Arguments
Angmo’s plea strongly contests these allegations, stating that the detention is based on “stale FIRs, vague imputations, and speculative assertions,” with no proximate link to the alleged grounds. The petition argues that such use of preventive detention powers amounts to a gross abuse of authority and violates constitutional safeguards.
It also points out that Wangchuk publicly condemned the violence and reiterated his commitment to peaceful protest, calling the day of unrest the saddest of his life.
Conclusion
With the matter now listed for January 8, the Supreme Court’s decision will be closely watched, given the wider implications for civil liberties, preventive detention laws, and democratic dissent.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople
The adjournment in Sonam Wangchuk’s case highlights the delicate balance between national security laws and individual freedoms. As the Supreme Court prepares to examine the merits of the detention, the outcome could have significant implications for how preventive laws like the NSA are applied to activists and protest leaders in India.