Supreme Court Questions Centre on Sonam Wangchuk’s Detention, Seeks Clarity on Wife Not Being Notified

The Supreme Court on Monday raised serious concerns over the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA) and questioned why his wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, was not informed about the reasons behind his arrest. The detention comes in the aftermath of recent violent clashes in ladakh.

A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria noted that the case will be heard on October 14 and issued notices to the Centre, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan. The petition, filed under Article 32, seeks Wangchuk’s release and challenges the detention as illegal under Article 22, since neither Wangchuk nor his wife was served with the grounds for his arrest. Wangchuk is currently lodged in Jodhpur Jail after being detained on September 26, following protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status. The unrest left four people dead and nearly 90 injured.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, argued that without access to the detention notice, they cannot challenge the arrest legally. He also highlighted that Angmo has not been allowed to meet her husband since his detention.

On the other hand, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the detention, stating that Wangchuk had already been served the grounds and that his brother had met him. He argued that serving the grounds of detention to the wife was not legally required, accusing the petitioner of trying to create a new ground for challenging the detention order.

The Supreme Court, however, pressed the government on this matter, remarking: “The grounds of detention must be provided in accordance with this court’s rulings. The family members should be informed. Why wasn’t the wife notified?” The bench instructed that a copy be served to her as well.

During the arguments, Sibal insisted that the family has not received any official copy of the detention order and that without it, they cannot make a proper representation before the advisory board. He further requested that Angmo be allowed to meet her husband in jail. The Solicitor General dismissed these claims as an attempt to generate unnecessary hype, stating that at least 12 people have already been allowed to meet Wangchuk and that no restrictions have been placed on his wife’s access.

Mehta added that the portrayal of Wangchuk being denied medicine and family access was misleading and intended to spark public outrage. Nonetheless, the court directed that Wangchuk must be provided with his required medicines, clothing, and medical care, especially since he had been fasting before his detention and was arrested without his personal belongings.

When asked about her attempts to visit her husband, Angmo informed the bench that she had gone to Jodhpur last week but was not granted permission to meet him. The Solicitor General reiterated his stance that the issue was being exaggerated, to which the bench cautioned against making “emotive arguments.”

At one point, the bench also questioned why Angmo had not approached a High Court. Sibal responded: “Which High Court? The Centre has issued the detention order.” The court acknowledged the point but refrained from commenting further, stating that the matter would be properly heard on October 14.

This case has drawn national attention, as Wangchuk is a well-known activist whose detention has sparked debates on the use of the NSA, Human Rights, and the rights of families of detainees to be informed of legal actions taken against their loved ones.