Amidst a pending case in the Supreme Court and widespread public criticism, the government has finally released environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk. Sonam was released on Saturday afternoon from the Central Jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, where he had been detained for nearly six months. Sonam Wangchuk had been taken into custody under the National Security Act (NSA) on charges of inciting violence in Ladakh. Under this law, an individual can be detained for up to one year without a trial in court.
A few hours after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs revoked his detention, Wangchuk walked out of the jail and was welcomed by his wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo. After completing the necessary paperwork, Wangchuk left the Jodhpur jail in a private vehicle with Angmo around 1:00 PM.
The 59-year-old Sonam Wangchuk had been accused of misleading the public by making provocative references to “Arab Spring”-style protests. Citing the need to foster “constructive and meaningful dialogue with all concerned parties,” the Union Ministry of Home Affairs revoked his detention with “immediate effect.”
This release comes just days before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Gitanjali Angmo’s *habeas corpus* petition on March 17. This petition was filed challenging Sonam’s detention under the 1980 Act, which permits detention without trial for a period of up to 12 months. Renowned lawyer Kapil Sibal is appearing on his behalf in this case, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta is representing the government.
Sonam Wangchuk was taken into custody on September 26, 2025. Two days prior to this, protests demanding full statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule had turned violent. The police were compelled to open fire during the incident. These events resulted in the deaths of four people and left 45 others injured. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also initiated a preliminary inquiry against an institution founded by Sonam Wangchuk. On February 25, activists in Jodhpur staged a demonstration demanding Sonam Wangchuk’s release.
From the very beginning, Sonam has been vociferously advocating the stance that, in order to safeguard Ladakh’s folk culture, environment, and tribal communities, it is imperative that the local residents’ rights to utilize the region’s natural resources are not curtailed. To this end, he has been demanding that Ladakh be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Bharatiya Janata Party had, in fact, made a promise to this effect in its election manifesto. Consequently, Sonam has consistently held the government accountable by repeatedly reminding it of this specific commitment.
