Ladakh admin counters Wangchuk wife, says due process followed for detention

New Delhi: Refuting allegations made by activist Sonam Wangchuk ’s wife against his detention under National Security Act , the Ladakh administration told Supreme Court that due process of law was followed, including informing him about grounds of arrest, and he was also allowed to meet his relatives in jail. It also informed the court that he was not being kept in solitary detention as alleged, and was medically fit.

In an affidavit filed in SC, Leh district magistrate Romil Singh Donk said Wangchuk was getting legal assistance and advice in jail in preparing his representation before the advisory board against his detention.

“At the outset, the answering respondent denies the baseless allegations made in the petition which suggest that Sonam Wangchuk has been detained illegally and that he is being treated improperly in the course of such detention. In this regard, it is submitted that he has been lawfully detained under a lawful authority by way of an order under Section 3(2) of NSA,” the affidavit said.

“The order of detention came to be passed by me (DM) 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 he 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,” it said.

He said that the activist was “categorically informed both of the factum of his detention under the Act as well as the factum of his transfer to the Jodhpur central jail. The said factum was also immediately communicated telephonically to his wife Geetanjali Angmo through SHO, Leh police station”.

The Jodhpur jail administration also filed an affidavit, saying Wangchuk had met his lawyer of choice as well as his brother and wife. “It is specifically stated that the detenue is not in solitary confinement as he is entitled to all rights available to the detenues (which are not available to persons in solitary confinement) as per Rajasthan Prison Rules,” it said.

“It is imperative to note that the detenue in addition to being in completely normal health is also consuming a normal diet, and regularly consuming morning tea, breakfast, evening tea and dinner every day since his detention,” the affidavit said.