The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the wife of Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk to amend her petition challenging his preventive detention, following the Central government’s submission that the grounds of detention have now been supplied. Gitanjali Angmo, Wangchuk’s wife, had initially approached the Court seeking his release on the basis that no reasons had been communicated by the authorities. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, sought permission to amend the plea so that the supplied grounds could now be legally contested. The matter has been listed next for hearing on October 29.

During the hearing, Sibal also raised concerns about Wangchuk being restricted from exchanging notes regarding his detention with his wife. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, stated that he had no objection to such exchanges, provided they were not misused to create a fresh ground for challenging the detention. Mehta also confirmed that Wangchuk had no major health issues requiring medication and had consulted his lawyer twice. The Court noted the submissions and adjourned the matter, expressing wishes for Wangchuk’s good health.

Wangchuk was arrested from Ladakh on September 26 amid protests demanding statehood for the Union Territory and is currently held in Jodhpur Central Jail, over a thousand kilometres from Ladakh. The petition contends that his preventive detention under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act was not genuinely linked to national security or public order, but aimed at silencing his peaceful activism on environmental and democratic issues. It also challenges procedural lapses, violation of his constitutional rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21, and seeks directions for his welfare, access, and immediate production before the Court.