The Supreme Court of India has postponed a crucial hearing concerning the detention of prominent Ladakhi climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk. The case, filed by his wife Gitanjali J Angmo, challenges his detention under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). The hearing is now scheduled for January 8, 2026.
Legal Proceedings and Adjournment
A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale deferred the matter on Wednesday. Justice Kumar noted that his colleague, Justice Varale, needed time to review the case details, suggesting a hearing for the following day. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Wangchuk, agreed to this schedule. This bench has taken over the case from an earlier combination of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria.
This is not the first delay in the proceedings. On November 24, the top court had similarly deferred the matter after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing both the Centre and the Ladakh Union Territory administration, requested time to file a response to the rejoinder submitted by Angmo. The court had initially sought responses from the Centre and Ladakh administration on an amended plea by Angmo on October 29.
The Grounds of Detention and Challenge
Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the NSA on September 26, 2025. This action came just two days after violent protests in Leh, which demanded full statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for Ladakh. The clashes resulted in four fatalities and 90 injuries. The government has accused Wangchuk of inciting this violence.
However, the plea filed by his wife vehemently contests these grounds. It labels the detention as illegal and an arbitrary exercise of power that violates his fundamental rights. The amended petition argues that the detention order relies on "stale FIRs, vague imputations, and speculative assertions" which lack a live or proximate link to the stated grounds for detention, rendering it legally unjustified.
"Such arbitrary exercise of preventive powers amounts to gross abuse of authority, striking at the core of constitutional liberties and due process," the plea alleges. It further questions the logic of targeting an individual with over three decades of national and international recognition for his work in education, innovation, and environmental conservation in Ladakh.
Condemnation of Violence and NSA Provisions
Angmo's plea clarifies that the tragic violence of September 24 cannot be attributed to Wangchuk's actions or statements. It states that Wangchuk himself publicly condemned the violence through his social media channels, calling it the saddest day of his life. He reportedly emphasized that violence would undermine Ladakh's five-year-long peaceful struggle, or "tapasya."
The National Security Act allows central and state governments to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in ways "prejudicial to the defence of India." Detention under this act can last for up to 12 months, although the order can be revoked earlier. The Supreme Court's upcoming hearing on January 8 will be a critical juncture in determining the validity of its application in this high-profile case.
