**SC Issues Notice to Centre on Sonam Wangchuk’s Detention**
*By Chanshimla Varah | Oct 06, 2025, 11:30 AM*
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the central government concerning a plea challenging the detention of Ladakh social activist Sonam Wangchuk. The plea was filed by his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, under Article 32 as a habeas corpus petition. She has challenged Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980, following violent clashes in Ladakh last month.
The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on October 14, seeking responses from all parties involved.
**Legal Challenge and Respondents**
Angmo’s petition names the Union Government, Ladakh Administration, and the Superintendent of Jodhpur Central Jail as respondents.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Angmo, argued that the grounds for Wangchuk’s detention should have been communicated to her. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta countered that there is no legal requirement to inform Wangchuk’s wife about the grounds of detention.
**Interim Relief Sought**
Sibal also requested interim relief for medical support for Wangchuk. Mehta informed the court that Wangchuk had not asked for any medication during his medical examination but assured that necessary supplies would be provided if needed.
When asked about permission for Angmo to meet her husband, Justice Kumar noted that no formal request had been made. He advised, “First, make a request, and if it is denied, then approach the court.”
**Petition’s Claims and Legal Argument**
The petition asserts that Wangchuk’s incarceration is not genuinely related to national security or public order. Instead, it is an attempt to silence a respected environmentalist and social reformer known for advocating democratic and ecological causes.
According to the petition, Wangchuk participated only in peaceful Gandhian protests in Ladakh, exercising his constitutional rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. Consequently, his detention infringes upon his freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution.
Additionally, Angmo has challenged the transfer of Wangchuk to Jodhpur, which is located over a thousand kilometers from Ladakh, raising concerns about the accessibility and fairness of his detention conditions.
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The Supreme Court’s next hearing on this matter is scheduled for October 14, as the country awaits further developments on the legal proceedings surrounding Sonam Wangchuk’s detention.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/sc-issues-notice-to-centre-on-plea-against-wangchuk-s-detention/story
