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Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, moved the Supreme Court on October 3, challenging her husband’s detention and seeking his immediate release.
Left: Activist Sonam Wangchuk; Right: His wife Gitanjali J Angmo
The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea by Sonam Wangchuk’s wife today, Monday, challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) following the recent violent protests in Leh. A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria is scheduled to take up the matter around 10:30 AM.
Wangchuk was arrested on September 26 under Section 3(2) of the NSA by the Deputy Commissioner of Leh, only two days after violence broke out during protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule. The chaos claimed four lives and left several injured, and two days later Wangchuk was detained and shifted to the Central Jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
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Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife Approaches Supreme Court
Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, moved the Supreme Court on October 3, challenging her husband’s detention and seeking his immediate release. Angmo, in her plea filed through senior lawyer Vivek Tankha and lawyer Sarvam Ritam Khare, has also questioned the decision to invoke the NSA against Wangchuk.
In the plea, Gitanjali alleged that Wangchuk’s detention was “illegal, arbitrary, and unconstitutional”, violating fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22.
“Wangchuk, who has been an internationally acclaimed innovator, environmentalist, and social reformer, has always espoused Gandhian and peaceful methods to highlight the ecological and democratic concerns of Ladakh,” it said.
The plea also stated that no grounds of detention were furnished to date, either to Wangchuk or to his family.
Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife Alleges She’s Under House Arrest
In her petition, Sonam Wangchuk’s wife also alleged that she has been placed under virtual house arrest in Leh, while the students and staff of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), an institution founded by Wangchuk, are being subjected to harassment, intimidation, and intrusive investigations.
The plea states, “The arbitrary transfer of Wangchuk to Jodhpur, the harassment of students and staff of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), the virtual house arrest of the petitioner herself, and the false propaganda linking Shri Wangchuk to foreign entities clearly demonstrate mala fide state action intended to suppress democratic dissent and peaceful environmental activism.”
It adds that Wangchuk’s arrest has caused deep emotional distress among the people of Ladakh, who regard him as their leader and voice.
It also sought a direction to the authorities to place before the top court “the order of detention along with grounds of detention and all records pertaining thereto”, and a direction to respondents to produce the medical report of Wangchuk, after immediate doctor consultation, before the court.
“Stop immediate harassment of HIAL and its members/students who have done no harm and are tirelessly working for the benefit of the ecology,” it said.
About the Author
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her…Read More
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her… Read More
October 06, 2025, 09:09 IST
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