New Delhi: Gitanjali Angmo, wife of Ladakhi education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, has approached the Supreme Court to challenge his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).
The habeas corpus petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, was moved on October 2, following Wangchuk’s arrest on September 26. He is currently being held in Jodhpur Central Jail, Rajasthan, after being detained in connection with protests demanding statehood for Ladakh.
While the specific grounds raised in the petition are yet to be made public, the matter is expected to be taken up for urgent hearing once the Supreme Court reopens after the Dussehra break on October 6.
Wangchuk, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee known for his work in education and environmental sustainability, was taken into custody after protests in Leh turned violent on September 24, resulting in the deaths of four people during police firing. Authorities alleged that Wangchuk played a key role in inciting the demonstrations.
On September 30, the Ladakh administration issued a statement justifying Wangchuk’s detention, accusing him of repeatedly invoking the idea of “self-immolation” in his public speeches, drawing parallels to protest tactics used in Tibet. Officials claim this rhetoric posed a serious threat to public order.
The administration confirmed that the “grounds of detention” were formally served to Wangchuk, who remains incarcerated under the NSA—a law that allows for preventive detention without charge in cases involving national security or public order concerns for 12 months.
{{/usCountry}}The administration confirmed that the “grounds of detention” were formally served to Wangchuk, who remains incarcerated under the NSA—a law that allows for preventive detention without charge in cases involving national security or public order concerns for 12 months.
{{/usCountry}}A detention order can be issued by the central or state government, or by authorised officials like a district magistrate or police commissioner if it is considered necessary to prevent a person from acting in a manner prejudicial to the security of the state, public order, or essential supplies and services. A person can initially be detained for up to three months, which can be extended subject to a review by an advisory board, which consists of high court judges and others. Within three weeks of detention, the case ought to be referred to an advisory board. Within 5 to 15 days of detention, the grounds for detention must be communicated to the detainee. The detainee has the right to submit a representation against the detention order to the government.
Angmo, who co-founded the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL) with Wangchuk, has expressed concern over her husband’s detention. In a public statement issued on September 30, she stated that she has not been able to speak with him or access a copy of the detention order.