NEW DELHI, Feb 12: The Centre informed the Supreme Court that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, currently detained in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur jail under the National Security Act (NSA), was the “chief provocateur” behind the violence in Leh on September 24 last year.
The unrest, which claimed four lives and injured 60 others, was brought under control following his detention, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj told a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale.
Nataraj emphasized that all procedural requirements for Wangchuk’s detention were meticulously followed and that NSA orders can be issued on the basis of suspicion or reasonable probability, provided statutory procedures are adhered to.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing of the habeas corpus petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, for February 16.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that Wangchuk has been medically examined 24 times since his detention and remains “fit, hale, and hearty,” making health grounds insufficient for release.
Under the NSA, the Centre and state governments can detain individuals for up to 12 months to prevent actions “prejudicial to the defence of India,” though detentions can be revoked earlier.
Angmo challenged the legality of Wangchuk’s detention, asserting that he was not responsible for the Leh violence and had publicly condemned it through social media.
She highlighted that the events could not be attributed to his actions or statements and emphasized his five-year commitment to peaceful activism and the “tapasya” of Ladakh.
The case has drawn national attention, raising questions about the balance between national security and individual rights, especially in sensitive regions, and has intensified debates on the use of preventive detention laws against prominent activists. Wangchuk’s detention continues to be a flashpoint in discussions on civil liberties and state authority in India. (PTI)
