BREAKING | Centre withdraws NSA Detention Of Sonam Wangchuk after SC Questions Interpretation of his speeches

Today, the Union Government withdrew the preventive detention order issued against Ladakh-based environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), months after his arrest came under judicial scrutiny before the Supreme Court. With the detention now lifted ahead of the next hearing in the pending habeas corpus petition, the move effectively brings his preventive custody to an end, with the Centre stating that the step has been taken to restore normalcy and create space for dialogue in Ladakh.

Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, following unrest reported in Leh two days earlier, with the local administration invoking the NSA to maintain public order. The detention order had been issued by the District Magistrate, Leh, after authorities alleged that the situation had escalated into a serious law-and-order concern. His continued custody was challenged before the Apex Court through a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife Dr. Gitanjali Angmo, who questioned the legality of the detention and argued that the materials relied upon by authorities were not properly supplied to him.

The matter has been under judicial consideration since October, during which Wangchuk was lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail.

The Division Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Prasanna B. Varale examined the circumstances surrounding the detention and the evidence cited by the administration. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, argued that Wangchuk had not been given a fair opportunity to review the materials relied upon, including alleged video recordings of his speeches. The Court also raised concerns about the manner in which the speeches had been interpreted, remarking that authorities appeared to be “reading too much into” the activist’s statements.

While the Top Court is scheduled to continue hearing the case on March 17, the Centre has now revoked the detention order, noting that Wangchuk had already served nearly half of the maximum permissible period of preventive detention under the NSA.

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