Supreme Court questions Centre over Wangchuk's wife's plea challenging his detention
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on Centre and questioned as to why climate activist Sonal Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Wangmo was not given prior notice of the grounds for her husband’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA) in the wake of the recent violent clashes in Ladakh.
A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria issued notices to the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan over a petition filed by Gitanjali citing that she is not being allowed to meet her husband since his detention on September 26.
Kapil Sibbal, appearing for Wangmo argued that that they could not challenge the detention without receiving a copy of the detention notice.
Wangmo's petition was filed under Article 32 that is a habeas corpus plea seeking the release of Wangchuk, who is currently incarcerated in Rajasthan's Jodhpur jail. In her plea, she has challenged Wangchuk's detention as illegal under Article 22, citing that neither she nor her husband was provided grounds attributing to arrest.
Sibal further argued that neither they were provided any copy of detention, nor they were allowed to speak to him over intercom and without a proper copy citing grounds for detention, they cannot file a proper representation before relevant board.
He also requested that Wangmo be allowed to meet her husband, noting that she had not been granted access so far.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General said that a list was issued permitting 12 people to meet him and emphasised that no one was being prevented from meeting Wangchuk.
"This is all just to portray in the media and in that region that he is deprived of medicine and access to his wife. This is being done just to create an emotive atmosphere. Nobody has stopped wife from meeting," he added.
The court has also directed that Wangchuk should be provided with necessary medicines, clothes and medical attention as he had been detained without his belongings and had been fasting prior to his detention.
- PTC NEWS
