By: Express News ServiceNew Delhi | December 8, 2025 07:13 PM IST 3 min readThe court was hearing a writ petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). (File Photo)The Centre Monday opposed a plea in the Supreme Court wherein permission was sought to allow Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk to appear through video conferencing to present arguments challenging his detention.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, informed a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria that an exception should not be made for Wangchuk.The court was hearing a writ petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Angmo, said Wangchuk wished to be heard from prison via video conferencing and urged the court to allow this. “(Wangchuk) wants to be connected via video from jail, that order your lordships may…” he said.Opposing the request, Mehta said, “I have something to say on that because then we will have to give (the) same treatment to all convicts across the country. It is not an exception (we can allow).”Wangchuk was detained on September 26 under NSA for allegedly playing a role in instigating the violent protests in Ladakh on September 24, which led to four deaths in police firing.In her petition, Angmo has alleged that a “systematic campaign” had been “unleashed against” Wangchuk, linking him “with Pakistan and China”. She said the charges against Wangchuk were “baseless” and “floated with the sole object of defaming, maligning and discrediting his peaceful Gandhian movement” aimed at protecting the ecology of Ladakh.Story continues below this adShe further said that “such malicious propaganda is not only baseless but dangerous, as it seeks to stigmatise democratic dissent and portray environmental activism as anti-national, when in reality Shri Wangchuk has consistently worked for strengthening national unity and has been a supporter of the Indian Army through innovations such as high-altitude shelters and grassroots mobilisation in border areas.”Defending its use of NSA against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh administration has told the Supreme Court that due process was “faithfully and strictly” followed. The affidavit, filed by the Leh district magistrate, said the detention order was passed after “subjective satisfaction” that Wangchuk’s activities were prejudicial to the security of the state and maintenance of public order, and that all constitutional safeguards were observed.“Wangchuk had been indulging in activities prejudicial to the Security of the State, Maintenance of Public Order and Services essential to the community, as mentioned in the grounds of detention,” the Centre said in an affidavit.The court will hear the matter next on December 15. © The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Sonam Wangchuk