Supreme Court Issues Notice to Centre on Sonam Wangchuk's NSA Detention
On October 6, 2025, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of Sonam Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA). The Court issued a notice to the Central Government after receiving a habeas corpus petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo. She challenged the legality of his detention following recent violent protests in Ladakh.
Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on September 26, 2025. His detention under the National Security Act (NSA) followed violent protests in Leh, Ladakh, on September 24, which resulted in several casualties and considerable property damages. Authorities accused Wangchuk of inciting the protests, though he denied these allegations. After his arrest in Ladakh, he was transferred to Jodhpur Central Jail.
Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria presided over the hearing. They scheduled the next hearing for October 14, 2025.
Petition Seeks Grounds of Detention and Release
Gitanjali Angmo submitted the petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. She pressed for her husband’s release, stating the detention violated Article 22 rights. According to the petition, neither she nor Wangchuk received the grounds of detention, which makes it impossible to legally challenge the order.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, demanded that the authorities provide the grounds of detention to Mrs. Angmo. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta countered by saying the grounds have been supplied to Wangchuk himself. He added that no law requires serving this information to the detainee’s wife.
Court Questions Denial of Grounds to Wife
The Court refrained from issuing an interim order on this demand. However, Justice Kumar asked the Solicitor General why the petitioner could not receive the grounds. The Solicitor General described Mrs. Angmo’s plea as an attempt to create new legal grounds which currently do not exist. He insisted the government followed due procedure.
Sibal emphasised that without the grounds of detention, Wangchuk cannot mount a proper legal challenge. He clarified he did not expect the non-supply to invalidate the detention but needed the grounds to contest it.
The Solicitor General agreed to examine if authorities could supply the grounds to the petitioner.
Requests for Medical Support and Meetings
The petitioner also sought interim relief to obtain medical support for Wangchuk and the right to meet him in jail. The Solicitor General stated the detainee told medical examiners that he was not on any medication. The government assured that it would provide any required medical supplies.
Justice Kumar asked if Mrs. Angmo had formally requested a meeting with her husband. As she had not, the Court instructed her to submit such a request first. If the authorities deny it, she could then approach the Court for relief.
The Solicitor General accused the petitioner of stirring emotive issues to portray denial of medical care and access as propaganda targeted at the media and Ladakh.
Jurisdiction Question Raised
Justice Kumar questioned why the petitioner had not approached the High Court first. Senior Advocate Sibal explained that the detention order came from the Central Government, making High Court jurisdiction unclear. The Court directed the petitioner to clarify this jurisdictional issue during the next hearing.
Case Overview and Next Steps
The case, registered as “Gitanjali J. Angmo v Union of India and Ors (W.P.(Crl.) No. 399/2025),” awaits the next hearing scheduled on October 14, 2025. The Supreme Court’s notice signals judicial scrutiny of Wangchuk’s detention under the NSA and procedural fairness.
