The Supreme Court on Monday once again urged the Central government to reconsider the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, citing serious concerns over his health condition. Hearing a habeas corpus petition, the court stressed that such matters demand urgent attention and cannot be adjourned casually. The bench made it clear that prolonged detention without resolution raises constitutional red flags.

During the hearing, the Centre informed the court that Wangchuk is currently undergoing medical treatment at AIIMS Jaipur, arguing that the facility offers better care than what is available in Ladakh. However, the government maintained that Wangchuk’s health was stable. This claim was strongly contested by Wangchuk’s counsel, who told the court that his client’s condition remained poor and showed no significant improvement.

When the Centre sought a week’s adjournment due to the unavailability of Solicitor General KM Nataraj, the bench reminded the government of the urgency of habeas corpus proceedings. Justice Aravind Kumar specifically asked whether the Centre had made any progress on the possibility of releasing Wangchuk on medical grounds. Unsatisfied with the response, the court posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.

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Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year under the National Security Act, two days after violent protests erupted in Ladakh over demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status. The clashes resulted in four deaths and left nearly 90 people injured. The government has accused Wangchuk of instigating the violence in what it describes as a sensitive border region.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had already flagged deficiencies in Wangchuk’s medical report and asked the Centre to reconsider his detention in light of his health. On February 3, the Centre and the Ladakh administration justified the detention, claiming that Wangchuk attempted to mobilize youth by invoking protest movements in Nepal, Bangladesh, and even referencing Arab Spring-style agitations.

Defending the government’s stance, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that all procedural safeguards under the NSA were strictly followed. He asserted that Wangchuk had been treated fairly and that his detention was necessary to prevent unrest in a strategically sensitive region. The court, however, continues to weigh these claims against constitutional safeguards and humanitarian concerns.

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