New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, asked the Centre if there was any possibility for it to take a relook at the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, considering his health condition.
Wangchuk`s health report was not good, the bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice P B Varale observed, asking Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, to seek instructions from the Centre in the matter.
“Apart from submissions, counter submissions and law points, just give a thought to it, as an officer of the Court. The detention order is passed on September 26, 2025, nearly five months.
“Considering the health condition of the detainee… The report which we saw earlier, it shows that his health is not that good. There are certain age-related, may be otherwise. Is there a possibility for the government to rethink, or even relook? the bench observed orally.
The ASG said that he would put the suggestion to the concerned authorities.
Nataraj, during the hearing, submitted that Wangchuk was responsible for violence in Leh last year in which four people died and 161 were injured.
“It was ultimately, his provocative speech, provocation, instigation. The person need not actively participate, the propensity of person to influence a group of persons that is more than sufficient,” he said, Mid-Day has reported, quoting agencies.
The order of Wangchuk`s detention was approved on October 3, 2025, and there is no challenge to the approval order, Nataraj said. Hearing of the matter will continue on Thursday.
On Tuesday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the Court that all procedural safeguards were followed while ordering Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA). On Monday, the Centre had said that Wangchuk tried to instigate Gen Z for protests like in Nepal and Bangladesh.
Wangchuk even allegedy referred to Arab Spring-like agitation which has led to the overthrow of multiple governments in countries of the Arab world, Mehta had told the Court
The Supreme Court is hearing a plea by Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo, against his detention under the stringent NSA. The NSA empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India”. The maximum detention period is 12 months, though it can be revoked earlier.
Wangchuk, who is under detention in the Jodhpur Central Jail, had said on January 29 that he made no statement to overthrow the government like the `Arab Spring`. He had emphasised that he has the democratic right to criticise and protest.
Senior advocate, Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, submitted that police have relied on “borrowed material” and selective videos to mislead the detaining authority.
Angmo has called the detention illegal and an arbitrary exercise violating her husband’s fundamental rights. Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead in the Union Territory. The government accused him of inciting the violence.
