The Centre and the Ladakh administration told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained for instigating people in a sensitive border region, justifying his arrest under the National Security Act.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale that Wangchuk’s activities posed risks in an area bordering Pakistan and China.
He said all procedural safeguards under the NSA were followed and that Wangchuk had been given fair treatment.
“This court is dealing with a person who is instigating people in a border area where regional sensitivity is involved,” Mehta submitted, adding that every provision of the law had been scrupulously complied with.
The arguments remained inconclusive and will continue on Wednesday. On Monday, the Centre had alleged that Wangchuk attempted to instigate younger generations to protest in a manner similar to movements seen in Nepal and Bangladesh, and had referred to Arab Spring-type agitations.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, challenging his detention. She has argued that the arrest is illegal, arbitrary, and violates his fundamental rights. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioner, said authorities relied on selective videos and borrowed material to justify the detention.
Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests in Leh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and nearly 90 injured. The government has accused him of inciting the violence, a charge Angmo has denied, saying Wangchuk publicly condemned the unrest and consistently advocated peaceful protest.