A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) had been filed in the Delhi High Court against the detention of climate activist from Ladakh Sonam Wangchuk. The PIL was mentioned before the bench headed by Chief Justice Manmohan for urgent listing.
The plea seeks a direction from court to release climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others who were detained while marching alongside him. However, the court did not take up the matter since the court was hearing full bench matters today.
The high court has agreed to hear the matter on October 3 (Thursday), provided that all the required documents are filed by the petitioner by today at 3:30 PM.
Climate activist Wangchuk and other volunteers embarked on a foot march from Leh to New Delhi on September 1 to urge the Centre to resume dialogue with Ladakh’s leadership regarding their demands. Before being detained, the activist shared the news of his detention through microblogging website ‘X’ and said “I am being detained along with 150 padyatris at Delhi Border, by a police force of 100s some say 1000. Many elderly men & women in their 80s and few dozen Army veterans…Our fate is unknown.
One of their key demands is for Ladakh to be included in the sixth schedule of the Constitution, which would grant law-making powers to the local population which they say will help them protect their land and cultural identity. They are also seeking separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
I AM BEING DETAINED…
along with 150 padyatris
at Delhi Border, by a police force of 100s some say 1,000.
Many elderly men & women in their 80s and few dozen Army veterans…
Our fate is unknown.
We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi… in the largest democracy… pic.twitter.com/iPZOJE5uuM
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) September 30, 2024
Wangchuk is also demanding separate statehood for Ladakh.
