The Central government and Leh administration on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that they have decided against releasing detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on health grounds.
A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale had last week urged the government to review the decision to detain Wangchuk, considering his deteriorating health in the jail.
However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today informed the Court that Wangchuk is healthy and thus it would not be possible to release him on health grounds.
"We have examined his (Wangchuk’s) health periodically for 24 times. He is fit, hale and hearty. He had some digestive issue, he is being treated. There is nothing to worry, nothing alarming. We can’t make exceptions like this. The grounds on which the detention order was passed, continues. It will not be possible to release him on health grounds. It may not be desirable also. We have given utmost consideration," Mehta said.
The Court was hearing the plea moved by Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Angmo against his preventive detention under the National Security Act (NSA).
Wangchuk has been detained under the NSA following protests in Leh in September 2025 over demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Angmo's counsel last month contended that Wangchuk has a democratic right to criticise and protest against the government and that such sentiments do not threaten the security of the State to warrant his detention.
In response, the Union government and the Leh administration on Monday claimed that Wangchuk wanted the Union Territory to face an agitation and violence similar to what had transpired in Nepal and Bangladesh.
Wangchuk referred to the Central government as "them", thus revealing secessionist tendencies, and instigated the GenZ (Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012) ) to indulge in a civil war, the government further alleged.
"He (Sonam Wangchuk) refers to the Central government as “them”. This “us” and “them” is enough for NSA detention. There is no us and them. We are all Indians," it was submitted.
The government also said that all procedural safeguards were followed in passing the detention order against Wangchuk. Further, it blamed the activist for last year’s Leh violence.
The government is yet to conclude its arguments in the case. Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj is currently making submissions on behalf of the authorities.
Centre and the Ladakh Administration are being represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj along with Additional Advocate General of Rajasthan Shiv Mangal Sharma and advocates Arkaj Kumar, Astha Singh and Aman Mehta.