NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980. The bench, comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale, rescheduled the matter for February 26 due to the unavailability of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
Wangchuk has been in custody since September 26, 2025, following a wave of violent protests in Leh that left four people dead and approximately 161 injured. The activist was initially shifted to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan. His wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, filed the petition seeking a declaration that his year-long preventive detention is illegal and politically motivated.
The “AI Accuracy” and Video Controversy
The proceedings have recently centered on the evidence cited by the government to justify the detention:
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Transcription Discrepancies: On February 18, the Supreme Court pulled up the Centre over the transcripts of videos used against Wangchuk. The bench noted a significant “variance” between the actual speeches (some lasting only three minutes) and the government’s provided translations (extending to seven or eight minutes). The court remarked that in the era of Artificial Intelligence, translation precision should be at least 98%.
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Access to Evidence: Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal, representing Angmo, alleged that four critical videos forming the basis of the detention were never actually shown or supplied to Wangchuk. He claimed that while a laptop was provided, the activist could only see “thumbnails” and the videos were never played, violating his right to effective representation.
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Government Stance: The Centre has maintained that all procedural safeguards were followed. Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj previously argued that Wangchuk acted as a “chief provocateur” and that his detention was necessary to restore order in the sensitive border region. The government has also likened his rhetoric to inciting “Arab Spring-like” agitations to overthrow the government.
Health and Surveillance Concerns
The court has previously expressed concern over Wangchuk’s health, specifically regarding a recurring digestive ailment. While the Solicitor General described him as “fit, hale and hearty” following multiple medical examinations, the bench had earlier urged the government to “relook” at the detention on humanitarian grounds.
Additionally, Angmo’s petition alleges that she has been placed under surveillance by the Intelligence Bureau and Rajasthan Police in both Jodhpur and Delhi, which she describes as a violation of her fundamental rights.
