The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the Central government and the Ladakh Administration over the detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk.
The bench of justice Arvind Kumar and NV Anjaria was responding to a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo, challenging his detention.
Angmo had accused the administration of illegally detaining her husband and launching a systematic, untruthful and false campaign against him.
Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act on September 26, days after protests demanding statehood for Ladakh turned violent. The activist was accused of instigating the violence, and links to Pakistan and China.
Detained under the NSA
The NSA empowers the Centre and state governments to detain people as preventive measures. The authorities can arrest individuals considered to be posing a threat to India's security or public order. People can also be arrested over suspected relations with foreign powers. The District Magistrate and Police Commissioner can also exercise these powers when authorised.
Political witch-hunt?
Ladakhi leaders have condemned Wangchuk’s detention. Leaders of Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) -- two organisations that were negotiating Ladakhi statehood with the central government -- have accused the government of political vendetta, and pulled out of the negotiations.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the grounds for detention had been provided to Sonam Wangchuk.
Kapil Sibal, representing Angmo at court, demanded that the grounds of detention be supplied to the wife.
Mehta also said that the government was evaluating Angmo request to meet Wangchuk. The government must now respond to the Supreme Court notice by the date of the next hearing on October 14.
