The Supreme Court on Monday
questioned why climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s legal team had not approached
the High Court before filing a plea in the apex court against his detention
under the National Security Act (NSA).
A bench hearing the matter asked
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Wangchuk, “Which high court?” and
directed that the question be addressed in the next hearing.
The court also questioned why a
copy of the detention order could not be served to Wangchuk’s wife. Solicitor
General Tushar Mehta responded that while there was no objection in principle,
authorities wanted to avoid giving grounds for challenging the detention.
The bench assured that Wangchuk’s
wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, would be granted access and listed the case for
further hearing on October 14.
The solicitor general informed
the court that Wangchuk had already met his lawyer and brother in jail, while
his wife’s request for a meeting was under consideration. When asked when the
last request was made, Sibal said it was on Friday. The bench instructed the
prison authorities to follow standard access procedures.
The proceedings follow a plea
filed by Angmo last week, seeking her husband’s immediate release. Wangchuk,
known for his environmental activism in Ladakh, was detained under the NSA
after protests in Leh earlier this month that left five people dead.
In her plea, Angmo challenged
the legality of the detention, sought immediate access to her husband, and
requested that the detention order be shared with the family. She also urged
the court to direct that Wangchuk receive medical care, food, and clothing,
citing concerns over his health and lack of communication from prison
authorities.
The solicitor general told the
bench that Wangchuk had informed the medical officer he was not on any
medication and argued that “reports of deprivation” were being used to create a
media narrative.
Angmo also appealed to the court
to ensure that members of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Leh (HIAL),
founded by Wangchuk, are not harassed by authorities. She termed the detention
“unconstitutional” and sought his immediate release.