Centre opposes video appearance of Sonam Wangchuk in SC over NSA detention case

The Supreme Court on Monday heard a plea by Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). Wangchuk, currently held in Jodhpur jail, sought permission to appear via video conferencing, a request opposed by the Centre.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Angmo, argued that Wangchuk’s detention is illegal and arbitrary, violating his fundamental rights. The plea contends that the detention order is based on stale FIRs, vague allegations, and speculative assertions, with no live connection to the September 24 violent protests in Leh, which left four dead and 90 injured. Wangchuk has been accused of inciting the unrest, allegations the plea strongly denies.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, opposed the video request, stating that all convicts across the country must be treated equally. The court adjourned the matter for further hearing on December 15.

Wangchuk was detained under the NSA on September 26, two days after the Leh protests, which involved calls for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. The NSA empowers the Centre and state governments to detain individuals to prevent actions prejudicial to the defence of India, with a maximum detention period of 12 months.

Angmo’s amended plea highlights Wangchuk’s decades-long contributions to grassroots education, innovation, and environmental conservation in Ladakh and across India, stating that the violent events cannot be attributed to him. She also noted that Wangchuk had condemned the violence publicly, calling it the saddest day of his life and stressing that violence would undermine Ladakh’s peaceful pursuits.