SC allows Wangchuk's wife to amend petition, challenge detention grounds

The Supreme Court ‘on Wednesday allowed activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, to amend her petition after she expressed her intention to challenge the grounds of detention cited by the Ladakh administration to justify her husband's arrest under the National Security Act (NSA) last month.

- Utkarsh Anand

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria permitted ‘Angmo’s counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, to amend her plea so that it could address the government’s explanation for the detention. The case will now be heard on October 29.

“I will amend it so that the matter can continue here,” Sibal told the bench, referring to the affidavit filed by the district magistrate (DM) of Leh, who claimed that ‘Wangchul’s detention was lawful and procedurally sound.

The bench recorded the submission and adjourned the case, even as Sibal expressed concern that Wangchuk was not being allowed to exchange certain notes related to his detention with his wife.