Central Government Revokes Sonam Wangchuk's Detention under NSA

Ritwik Choudhury (Bar and Bench) 14 March 2026

Economy & Nation

The Central government has revoked the detention of Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA).

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the decision was taken after considering the need to foster “an environment of peace, stability, and mutual trust” in Ladakh.

Further, it said that Wangchuk had already undergone nearly half of the period of detention permitted under the preventive detention law.

The government also said it has been engaging with stakeholders and community leaders in Ladakh to address the aspirations and concerns of the people in the region.

However, it said the ongoing atmosphere of bandhs and protests had affected the normal functioning of society and adversely impacted several sections of the community, including students, job aspirants, businesses, tour operators and tourists.

It said discussions would continue through mechanisms such as the High-Powered Committee constituted to examine demands related to the region, as well as other appropriate platforms.

The Central government had declined the Supreme Court's suggestion to release Wangchuk on health grounds.

A petition filed by his wife Gitanjali Angmo challenging his detention remains pending before the top court. He was detained from Ladakh on September 26, 2025, and put in a jail in Jodhpur.

The arrest was made pursuant to the protests and violence that broke out in Ladakh over demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory.

Angmo's plea against his husband's detention has remained pending before the top court since October 2025.

During the hearing of the plea, the government faced tough questions over the transcripts of videos cited against Wangchuk. The Court even remarked that the detaining authority had read too much into his speeches.

However, the delay in adjudication of the case remained a key issue.

While arguments in the case concluded last month, the matter remained pending after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought time to make certain submissions regarding the transcripts of the videos.

Exasperated with the delay, Angmo's counsel Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal told the Court last month that the matter cannot go on forever.

On March 10, a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale said it would go through the videos cited by the Centre, before making a final decision.

The case was listed thrice after Mehta sought time, but had to be adjourned each time. It is now listed for hearing on March 17.

Courtesy: Bar and Bench

Comments

User

david.rasquinha

2 months ago

In 3 days the SC would also y certainly have ruled in Wangchuk’s favour and ordered him released and the cooked up case dismissed. The Modi government realised it would lose and pre empted. But what about the near 6 months of imprisonment? Who will redress that and how? This is a flawed justice system.