The Supreme Court on Monday, October 6, 2025, scheduled the hearing of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s case for October 14. His wife, Dr. Gitanjali J. Angmo, filed a habeas corpus plea challenging his preventive detention under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980. This followed violent protests in Leh on September 24.
Dr. Angmo told the court that authorities had not shared the grounds of Wangchuk’s detention with the family. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing her, stressed this omission prevented her from challenging the detention effectively.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta countered that the law only requires the detainee to receive the grounds of detention. Justice Aravind Kumar noted that authorities may decide whether to share these details with family members. Sibal questioned how the habeas corpus plea could proceed without full disclosure of the grounds.
The court granted Dr. Angmo permission to meet Wangchuk in jail before the next hearing. This will allow her to assess his condition and prepare her arguments.
Sonam Wangchuk is a well-known environmentalist and education reformer in Ladakh. His arrest has sparked nationwide debates about preventive detention and civil liberties. Activists have called for transparency and judicial scrutiny.
The October 14 hearing will draw public attention. Many view it as a test of the balance between national security and individual rights in India.
