Supreme Court hears petition against NSA detention of Sonam Wangchuk

The Supreme Court on Monday heard a habeas corpus petition filed by Gitanjali J Angmo challenging the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act and sought responses from the Union government and the Union Territory of Ladakh, before posting the matter for further hearing on October 14. Wangchuk was detained on September 26 and is lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail; his detention followed violent protests in Ladakh on September 24 that left four people dead and about 90 injured.

Angmo, who filed the petition through senior counsel Vivek Tankha and Sarvam Ritam Khare, asked the high court to quash the preventive detention order, secure immediate production of Wangchuk before the court, and grant her both telephonic and in-person access to her husband. The plea alleges that Wangchuk’s detention is illegal, arbitrary, and unconstitutional and violates fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22 of the Constitution. It also seeks production of the detention order and the grounds for detention, Wangchuk’s medical report, and directions to ensure he receives medicines and basic necessities.

The petition names the Ministry of Home...