Supreme Court Continues Wangchuk Detention Hearing

The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday continued hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Gitanjali J. Angmo challenging the preventive detention of her husband, Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk, under the National Security Act. The bench, comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B. Varale, is scheduled to resume proceedings on Thursday, as the government maintained that Wangchuk's health does not warrant his release.

Wangchuk, a prominent climate and social activist, was detained on September 26, 2024, in Leh, Ladakh, two days after violent protests demanding statehood for the union territory and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The demonstrations, which involved clashes between protesters and security forces, resulted in four deaths from police firing and injuries to between 90 and 150 people, including several officers injured by stone-throwing. Authorities accused Wangchuk of inciting the unrest, alleging he provoked young participants by referencing events like the Arab Spring and Nepal's movements. He was subsequently transferred to a jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

During the latest hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing...