The Supreme Court on Monday closed a “useless” petition demanding the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, after the Center canceled his detention under the National Security Law on March 14.
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and BP Varali said: “After quashing the arrest order, the prayer sought in the petition has become infructuous. The petition has been disposed of.”
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmu, asked the court to keep the matter pending. According to him, the petition raised a valid challenge to the manner in which Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025 after the violence in Ladakh, in violation of the procedures prescribed by the NSA. It was further alleged that the video clips of Wangchuk’s speeches that form the basis of the grounds for arrest were not provided to him at the time of his arrest.
The Ladakh administration denied the allegation and due to different accounts, the court agreed to watch the videos. While the case was pending, the arrest warrant was canceled and Wangchuk was later released from Jodhpur Central Prison earlier this month.
In response to Sibal’s request, the bench said: “What is left for us to decide now? Why are we keeping this matter pending?”
Echoing the court’s view, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said, “The order has been set aside. I would request him (Sibal) to allow it.”
