New Delhi, December 7: The Supreme Court will resume hearing on Monday a plea filed by Gitanjali J. Angmo, challenging the detention of her husband, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, based in Leh. According to the Supreme Court's causelist, a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria will take up the case on December 8.
During the previous hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government and the Union Territory of Ladakh, requested additional time to respond to a rejoinder filed by the petitioner. The bench, led by Justice Aravind Kumar, granted the request and deferred the proceedings until December 8.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had allowed Angmo to amend her petition, which describes Wangchuk's detention as "illegal" and an "arbitrary exercise violating his fundamental rights." The Court had directed the Centre, the Ladakh administration, and jail authorities to submit their additional responses. The order, passed on October 29, stated, "The petitioner is permitted to amend the petition and file an amended copy within a week. The amended counter shall be filed within ten days thereafter. Rejoinder, if any, within a week thereafter. List on November 24."
In her amended petition, Angmo argues that the detention order was issued mechanically, without proper consideration, and that mandatory procedural safeguards under the National Security Act (NSA) were not followed. She also claims that the authorities acted in haste and failed to provide timely and meaningful grounds for detention, depriving Wangchuk of the opportunity to effectively challenge his detention.
In its earlier affidavit, the Ladakh administration defended the detention, stating that it was necessary due to Wangchuk's alleged role in inciting unrest in Leh. The administration further argued that the grounds for detention were communicated within the required time frame and that the detention advisory board had upheld the decision. Wangchuk, a renowned environmentalist and education reformer, was detained in September and later transferred to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan.
