The Supreme Court of India today disposed of a plea filed by Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of Sonam Wangchuk, challenging the detention of the climate activist under the National Security Act (NSA), PTI reported.
The chairman of the review board comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale said during the hearing that the central government had withdrawn its detention order on March 14 and therefore “nothing remains in the matter”, the report added.
The Supreme Court had previously asked the government to consider reconsidering Wangchuk’s detention due to his health. He was lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail.
Center cancels Sonam Wangchuk’s detention: What happened?
On March 14, the Center announced that it had lifted the NSA’s detention of Wangchuk, effective immediately. This comes nearly six months after the Ladakh-based activist was arrested following violent protests in Leh that reportedly left four dead.
Wangchuk was detained on 26 September 2025, two days after protests demanding statehood for Ladakh turned violent. The protesters also demanded that the state be included in the sixth schedule of the constitution.
A total of four people died and more than 45 others, including 22 police officers, were injured in the protests.
“We see this as a positive step”: Sonam Wangchuk
Speaking to reporters on Sunday after returning to Leh, Wangchuk expressed hope for constructive talks on the status of Ladakh and said the movement would be peaceful. He noted that “a lot has gone wrong” but the future should focus on correcting past mistakes. He also urged the Center to release others still facing legal action over the protests, another PTI report said.
Members of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and a large number of supporters who gathered to welcome Wangchuk hosted a grand reception at the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport on March 22.
“A new step has been taken and we see it as positive. Even if some people say it is a defeat or a victory, we don’t want to see it that way. If they take one step there, we take two here, if we take two, they four – that’s our expectation from the participants,” the climate activist added.
As for the possibility of new protests, Wangchuk said he hoped such a situation would not arise and maintained that any future movement would remain peaceful. “If so, we will follow the path of justice, truth and peace. We will not deviate from peace or truth,” he said.
He also said he plans to meet the families of those who died during the protests to greet them and thank them for their sacrifices.
