New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Centre as to why climate activist Sonam 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).
While stating that the matter will be heard on October 14, a bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria issued notices to the Centre, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan over a plea filed by Gitanjali Angmo, who informed the bench that she has not been allowed to meet her husband since he was detained on September 26. Wangmo’s petition filed under Article 32 is a habeas corpus plea seeking the release of Wangchuk, who is currently lodged in the Jodhpur jail.
Kapil Sibal, appearing for Wangmo, argued that they could not challenge the detention without receiving a copy of the detention notice. The Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, however, maintained that the grounds of detention had already been served to Wangchuk, and that his brother had met him after he was taken into custody. He also requested that Wangmo be allowed to meet her husband, noting that she had not been granted access so far.
The Solicitor General said a list of 12 people had been permitted to meet Wangchuk, and stressed that no one was being prevented from meeting him, warning against “creating a hype”. On its part, the Supreme Court noted that while the law requires service of the grounds to the detenue, there was no impediment in providing a copy to the wife, but clarified that no orders would be passed at this stage.
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