New Delhi: The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is in a “perfectly good” medical condition and is receiving the best possible treatment at AIIMS, Jodhpur, where he is currently under custody.
A Bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale was told by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K.M. Nataraj that, as of now, there has been no review of Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA), despite the court’s earlier observations regarding his health.
During the hearing, Justice Aravind Kumar questioned the Centre on whether any steps had been taken to reconsider Wangchuk’s detention in light of his reported health issues. In response, the ASG submitted that no such decision had been made yet, reiterating that Wangchuk was being well looked after medically.
Counsel appearing for Wangchuk argued that his continued detention should be urgently reconsidered, citing ongoing health concerns. Justice Varale noted that the court had already raised similar concerns in the previous hearing and acknowledged that medical issues were indeed recorded in doctors’ reports.
The ASG maintained that Wangchuk’s condition was stable and added that access to advanced healthcare facilities in Rajasthan was far superior compared to Ladakh. The remark drew a sharp response from the Bench, which cautioned against such comparisons.
The court reminded the Centre that the matter involves a habeas corpus petition, where personal liberty is at stake, and said such arguments were inappropriate. However, it agreed to take up the plea on Wednesday, making it clear that no further adjournments would be allowed.
The petition has been filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, seeking to declare his detention illegal. Earlier, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, had requested a specialist medical examination due to Wangchuk’s recurring stomach ailments, allegedly caused by contaminated water.
Following the court’s direction, Wangchuk was examined at AIIMS, Jodhpur, and a medical report was submitted. On February 4, the Supreme Court had already expressed concern over his health and asked the Centre to explore the possibility of reviewing his detention.
The Centre and the Ladakh administration have justified Wangchuk’s detention by alleging that he instigated protests in a sensitive border region. The government has claimed that his statements could provoke unrest similar to movements seen in other countries.
Wangchuk, who has been in custody since September 26 last year, has denied all allegations, asserting his democratic right to protest peacefully. He was detained days after violent protests in Ladakh over statehood and Sixth Schedule demands, which resulted in multiple deaths.
