The case is likely to be heard on January 29, 2026
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Next hearing likely on January 29
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B. Varale will hear the case.Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Today News Updates: Gitanjali J Angmo, the wife of jailed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, had approached the Supreme Court against his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). Multiple hearings have taken place in the case so far.
What happened in the previous hearings
- On January 12, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Angmo argued that there is a right to make representation not only to the advisory board but also to government. He further submitted that Section 5A of the National Security Act was not applicable in the case. Sibal argued that the grounds are simply a copy paste of the recommendation. He said that the material relied upon should have a proximate link to the detention order. He further asserted that irrelevant material were relied upon for detention.
- On January 8, Angmo told the Supreme Court that the September 26, 2025 order detaining him under the National Security Act (NSA) was “vitiated” as the videos based on which it came to be issued were not supplied to them.
- On October 6, 2025 the apex court had issued notice on a plea by Wangchuk’s wife challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria had then issued notice to the Centre and the Ladakh Administration on the petition filed by Gitanjali Angmo.
What is the case: Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, under the NSA, which empowers governments to act pre-emptively against individuals seen as a threat to public order or national security. He was later shifted to Jodhpur. His detention came two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union territory. The government had accused him of inciting the violence.
Live Updates
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Wangchuk detained “without cause"
Earlier, Angmo had written to the President of India, the PM and the HM seeking Wangchuk’s immediate release.
She had stated that Wangchuk has been detained “without cause” and questioned why she was not entitled to speak to her husband over the phone or in person.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Angmo files plea before court on October 2, 2025
Gitanjali J. Angmo, the wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk, had moved a Habeas Corpus petition before the Supreme Court challenging his arrest following the violent protests in Ladakh which resulted in four deaths.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: What is the National Security Act
The NSA, 1980, empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India, relations with foreign powers, the security of India, or the maintenance of public order or essential supplies.”
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Detained on September 26, 2025
Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on September 26 after being accused of instigating the protests demanding statehood for Ladakh, which turned violent, leading to four deaths in police firing in Leh on September 24. The protests also left 50 injured.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Events after arrest
Following Wangchuk’s arrest, Apex Body, Leh, and Kargil Democratic Alliance, the two organisations negotiating with the government on Ladakh matters, pulled out of the talks, claiming political motives behind the government’s move.
The Ladakh administration, however, dismissed allegations of political vendetta, rejecting claims that Wangchuk is being targeted in a “witch-hunt” or as part of a “smokescreen” operation.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Angmo's plea before court
In her petition, Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Angmo contended that a “systematic campaign” had been “unleashed against” Wangchuk, alleging “links with Pakistan and China.” She said the charges were “baseless” and “floated with the sole object of defaming, maligning and discrediting his peaceful Gandhian movement” aimed at protecting the ecology of Ladakh.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Detained under National Security Act
Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act, 1980, which empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India, relations with foreign powers, the security of India, or the maintenance of public order or essential supplies”.
District Magistrates and Police Commissioners can also exercise these powers when authorised. Unlike an arrest under criminal law, NSA detention is preventive, not punitive and is designed to prevent an individual from committing an act deemed harmful.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Due process followed faithfully
Defending its use of the National Security Act (NSA) against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh administration had earlier told the Supreme Court that due process was “faithfully and strictly” followed.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Case against Wangchuk
Wangchuk, booked by the Khaltsi Police Station in Leh District, Union Territory of Ladakh under Section 3 (2) of the National Securities Act, 1980, is accused of inciting violence in the region. He was leading a movement seeking statehood and protections under the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh before his arrest.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Constitutional duty to supply grounds
Sibal had earlier argued that it was the constitutional duty of the detaining authorities to supply complete grounds of detention. He had said that the “infraction” was not that the detaining authority didn’t had these documents, but that they didn’t supply.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Detention order vitiated, Sibal had argued
During the hearing on January 8, Sibal had said that the detention order was vitiated as the videos based on which it came to be issued were not supplied to the petitioner. He argued that it is well settled that if the grounds of detention are supplied but the documents relied upon in the grounds are not supplied, it will be against Article 22 of the constitution.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Section 5A of National Security Act
In the last hearing, Sibal said the detaining authority is citing Section 5A of the NSA to contend that Article 22 is subservient to the provision.
Section 5A says that where a detention order is made on two or more grounds, such order of detention shall be deemed to have been made separately on each of such grounds and accordingly, it shall not be deemed to be invalid or inoperative merely because one or some of the grounds is or are vague, non-existent, not relevant, not connected or not proximately connected with such person, or invalid for any other reason whatsoever.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Bench had asked Sibal
Sibal answered in the affirmative when Justice Kumar had asked during yesterday's hearing whether he was contending that by virtue of the recommendation which is cut, copy, paste, having been incorporated in the detention order, there has been no application of mind by the detaining authority.
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Copy pasted recommendations
Yesterday, Wagchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo contended that the District Magistrate, who issued the September 26, 2025 order for his detention under the National Security Act (NSA), had not applied his mind while doing so but had only “copy-pasted” recommendations made by the Ladakh SSP.
Sonam Wangchuk Live Hearing Updates: Ladakh administration affidavit against climate activist
Defending its use of the National Security Act (NSA) against Wangchuk, the Ladakh administration had, in October last year, informed the Supreme Court that due process was “faithfully and strictly” followed. The affidavit said the detention order was passed after “subjective satisfaction” that Wangchuk’s activities were prejudicial to the security of the state and maintenance of public order, and that all constitutional safeguards were observed. The affidavit was filed in response to his wife Angmo’s petition challenging his detention under the National Security Act, 1980.
Sonam Wangchuk Live Hearing Updates: Climate Activist's case initiated in Leh
Wangchuk was booked by the Khaltsi Police Station in Leh District, Union Territory of Ladakh under Section 3 (2) of the National Securities Act, 1980. The climate activist was leading a movement seeking statehood and protections under the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh before his arrest.
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