Ladakh violence: SC allows Wangchuk’s wife to raise additional grounds in giving reasons against his detention

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 29, 2025) has allowed Gitanjali Angmo, wife of detained activist Sonam Wangchuk, to file an amended petition highlighting lapses on the part of the authorities which strike at the foundation of the constitutional and statutory safeguards embodied under the NSA, 1980.

One of them, Ms. Angmo pointed out, was that the complete grounds of his detention were only supplied to Mr. Wangchuk after a “flagrant delay” of 28 days and on the eve of the hearing before the Advisory Board, crippling his ability to make his representations effectively.

She submitted that the detention was based on “stale FIRs” registered well over a year ago and in which her husband was not even named.

Four crucial videos which formed the “core evidentiary foundation” of the grounds of detention were also not shared with Mr. Wangchuk within the specified period of five to 10 days of detention under the NSA.

Further, recommendations upon which the detention order was passed and the endorsement/notification of September 26 authorising the District Magistrate, Leh to issue the order was also not supplied to Mr. Wangchuk.

The detention order did not reflect the ‘independent satisfaction’ that the District Magistrate has arrived at under Section 3 of the NSA, Ms. Angmo argued.

A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anajaria has given Ms. Angmo, represented by senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Vivek Tankha and advocate Sarvam Ritam Khare a week to file the amended petition.

The authorities, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, was given 10 days to file a counter affidavit to the amended petition. Ms. Angmo’s side was asked to submit a rejoinder, if any, to the counter affidavit within a week thereafter.

The court listed the case on November 24.