Ladakh protests: SC defers hearing on petition against Sonam Wangchuk's detention to Feb 26
The activist was detained on September 26, 2025 under the NSA, two days after protests demanding Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule status turned violent
The Supreme Court on Monday deferred to February 26 the hearing on a petition filed by Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk -- detained under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980 since September 26, 2025 following violent protests in Leh -- challenging his detention.
A Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice PB Varale adjourned the hearing as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was not available.
On February 19, senior counsel Kapil Sibal had alleged on behalf of that four videos that formed the basis of his detention were not shown to him.
The Supreme Court had on February 18 questioned the Centre over the transcripts of videos submitted by it against Wangchuk, saying translations should be precise in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
The activist was detained on September 26, 2025 under Section 3(2) of the NSA, two days after protests demanding Ladakh’s statehood and the Sixth Schedule status turned violent, leaving four persons dead and nearly 100 injured.
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 had on January 29 denied exhorting his supporters to overthrow the government like the Arab Spring and asserted his democratic right to criticise and protest.
The Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh Administration had sought to justify Wangchuk's detention under the NSA, saying he was detained for instigating people in a sensitive border area.
Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj had alleged that Wangchuk was responsible for the September 24, 2025 violence in Leh in which four people were dead and 161 injured.
