SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned to December 8 the hearing on a petition filed by the wife of jailed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has challenged his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) as unlawful and an arbitrary misuse of preventive powers, Daily Excelsior reported.
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria deferred the matter after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh, sought more time to reply to the rejoinder filed by the petitioner.
The court had earlier, on October 29, sought responses from the Centre and the Ladakh administration on an amended plea that argues Wangchuk’s detention is based on outdated FIRs, vague allegations and speculative claims, with no proximate link to the grounds cited. The petition terms the detention a “gross abuse of authority” that undermines constitutional liberties and due process.
Wangchuk’s wife said it was untenable that a figure recognised for decades for his contributions to education, innovation and environmental conservation would be targeted in this manner. She added that the violence in Leh on September 24 could not be attributed to him, noting that he had publicly condemned the unrest and warned that violence threatened Ladakh’s peaceful struggle.
Wangchuk was detained under the NSA on September 26, two days after protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh turned violent, resulting in four deaths and 90 injuries. Authorities have accused him of provoking the agitation.
The NSA empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent actions deemed prejudicial to the defence of India, with detention permitted for up to 12 months unless revoked earlier.
