New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on the plea of Sonam Wangchuck’s wife Gitanjali Je Angmo till October 15. The petition has challenged the climate activist’s detention under the National Security Act and demanded his immediate release.
A bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and N V Anjaria adjourned the hearing of the matter for Wednesday due to lack of time. The apex court had issued notices to the Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh on October 6. However, he refused to pass any order on his plea stating the grounds of detention and adjourned the hearing of the case to October 14.
Wangchuck was detained on September 26 under strict National Security Act (NSA). The incident came two days after violent protests demanding statehood and sixth schedule status to the Union Territory of Ladakh. Four people were killed and 90 injured in the violent protests. The government had accused him of inciting violence.
The NSA empowers the Centre and the states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting harmfully to protect India. The maximum detention period is 12 months, although it can be cancelled even earlier. Wangchuck is lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.
In his petition, Angamo has also questioned the decision to impose an NSA against Wangchuk. While filing a habeas corpus petition, the husband of the detained activist sought immediate listing of the petition and direct the Ladakh administration to produce Sonam Wangchuck in this court immediately. It also demanded immediate access to the detained person and cancellation of the preventive detention order.
