Supreme Court Urges Government to Reassess Detention of Ladakh Activist Sonam Wangchuk
Supreme Court's Intervention in Wangchuk's Detention
New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Supreme Court urged the Union government to reconsider the ongoing preventive detention of Sonam Wangchuk, a social activist from Ladakh, under the National Security Act (NSA).
The bench, comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale, was addressing a habeas corpus petition submitted by Wangchuk’s spouse, Dr. Gitanjali Angmo, who described his detention as 'illegal' and an 'arbitrary exercise infringing upon his fundamental rights.'
During the proceedings, Justice Aravind Kumar noted that Wangchuk had been detained since September 26, 2025, and the medical reports presented to the court indicated that his health was 'certainly not very good.'
The court suggested to Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K.M. Nataraj that the government should 'consider' whether it was appropriate to continue Wangchuk’s detention.
In response, ASG Nataraj assured the court that he would consult with the relevant authorities regarding this matter.
Defending the detention, he stated that the NSA is a specialized law designed for preventive measures. 'The NSA aims to prevent individuals from engaging in actions detrimental to public order or state security. Preventive detention is not a form of punishment; it relies on the discretion of the detaining authority,' he explained, emphasizing that the District Magistrate had issued the order after a thorough evaluation of the evidence.
ASG Nataraj claimed that a speech given by Wangchuk on September 24, 2025, was inflammatory and led to violent protests in Leh, resulting in four fatalities and injuries to 161 individuals. He also pointed out that while Wangchuk had contested the initial detention order, he had not challenged subsequent orders.
However, the bench led by Justice Aravind Kumar indicated that if the basis for the detention order was found to be legally flawed, including a lack of proper consideration, subsequent approvals would not hold up.
The Supreme Court noted that if the detention order were annulled, all related actions would also be rendered invalid. In a prior hearing, the bench had acknowledged Wangchuk’s health issues and mandated that a specialist from a government hospital assess him, with the medical report to be submitted in a sealed envelope.