New Delhi, Oct 15: The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned to October 29 the hearing on a plea filed by Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo challenging the climate activist’s detention after noting that she wants to amend her petition.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N. V. Anjaria noted that the jailor of Jodhpur jail has filed an affidavit stating that Wangchuk’s elder brother and lawyer met the detenue

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, said they will file an application to amend the petition and challenge the grounds of detention.

During the hearing, Sibal requested that Wangchuk be permitted to exchange some notes with his wife.

The apex court noted the submission of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that he has no problem with the detainee sharing notes with his wife.

The top court on October 6 had issues notices to the Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh. It, however, refused to pass any order on her plea for providing her the grounds of detention and posted the matter for hearing on October 14.

Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union territory. The government had accused him of inciting the violence.

The NSA empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India”. The maximum detention period is 12 months, though it can be revoked earlier.

Wangchuk is lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.

New Delhi, Oct 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary, saying that the former President and eminent scientist inspired the nation to dream big.

In a post on X, PM Modi, reflecting on APJ Abdul Kalam’s life, said he is remembered as a “visionary who ignited young minds”.

He expressed his commitment to build a “strong, self-reliant and compassionate nation as envisioned by Abdul Kalam.

“Remembering Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Ji on his birth anniversary. He is remembered as a visionary who ignited young minds and inspired our nation to dream big. His life reminds us that humility and hard work are vital for success. May we continue to build the India he envisioned…an India that is strong, self-reliant and compassionate,” PM Modi said.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (1931-2015), widely known as the “Missile Man of India,” was an eminent scientist and the 11th President of India (2002-2007). Born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, into a humble family, Kalam rose through sheer hard work and determination.

Kalam made a significant contribution as Project Director to develop India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which successfully injected the Rohini satellite into near-earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of the Space Club. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO’s launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration.

He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through the networking of multiple institutions.

Beyond his scientific contributions, Kalam was deeply passionate about inspiring the youth of India. He authored several influential books such as “Wings of Fire,” “Ignited Minds,” and “India 2020,” all centered around dreaming big and building a stronger nation.
APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on 27 July 2015.

New Delhi, Oct 15: The Supreme Court will resume hearing on Wednesday a plea filed by Gitanjali J. Angmo, wife of Sonam Wangchuk, challenging the detention of the Leh-based climate activist.

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria will take up the matter for hearing. On Tuesday, the Justice Kumar-led Bench deferred the hearing for October 15 after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Angmo, sought an adjournment.

Earlier, the apex court issued notice and sought responses from the Union government and other authorities in the matter. In its affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the Leh administration defended Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA), stating that the action was taken “lawfully” after considering all relevant material.

The DM of Leh, Romil Singh Donk, said that the detention order was passed on September 26 after he was “satisfied and continues to be satisfied of the detention of the detenue,” based on activities “prejudicial to the security of the state, maintenance of public order and services essential to the community”.

“Order of detention came to be passed by me after duly considering the material placed before me, as mandated under law, and after arriving at a subjective satisfaction on the circumstances that prevailed within the local limits of the jurisdiction where Sh. Sonam 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,” read the affidavit filed before the top court.

Refuting allegations that Wangchuk was detained illegally and treated improperly during his detention, the Leh administration termed the petitioner’s claims “baseless”, adding that the detention was carried out “in strict adherence to procedural safeguards under Article 22 of the Constitution and Section 8 of the NSA”.

The affidavit pointed out that Wangchuk and his family were promptly informed of the detention and his transfer to Jodhpur Central Jail on the same day.

“The authorities duly informed the wife of the detainee about the detention and the place of his detention,” the affidavit said, adding that authorities also issued a press statement regarding the detention on September 26.

It further stated that the grounds of detention were communicated to Wangchuk on September 29, within the mandatory five-day period as stipulated under Section 8 of the NSA, and that he acknowledged receipt with his signature.

“Therefore, all pleadings as regards the Detenue or the Petitioner not being informed of the Order of detention under the National Security Act, 1980, are completely false and misleading,” the affidavit said.

The affidavit also mentioned that Wangchuk was medically examined multiple times and found to be “medically and physically fit”.

It further said that he informed the medical officer he was “not on any medication”.

The affidavit pointed out that “nearly a fortnight has elapsed since detention, yet no representation has been made by Sh. Sonam Wangchuk to the detaining authority against his detention,” though his wife sent a letter addressed to the President and neither to the Advisory Board nor to any of the statutory authorities.

The affidavit concluded that all procedures under the NSA were complied with in time and that the Advisory Board had been duly constituted.