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New Delhi, October 29 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Geetanjali J., wife of Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The hearing on the habeas corpus petition filed by Angmo challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) was postponed to November 24.
A bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and NV Anjaria was hearing Angmo’s amended petition seeking Wangchuk’s release.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, sought permission from the apex court to submit additional documents in support of the petition.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the Centre’s second-highest law officer, informed the bench led by Justice Kumar that the amended application and the attached affidavit were filed on Tuesday evening.
Accepting Sibal’s prayer, a bench led by Justice Kumar allowed the petitioner party to amend the habeas corpus and file the amended copy within a week.
It directed the Central Government, Union Territory Ladakh, Deputy Commissioner of Leh and Jodhpur Central Jail authorities to file their additional responses within ten days thereafter.
Any rejoinder by the petitioner can be filed within a week of the government’s reply.
“The petitioner is permitted to amend the petition within a week and file a revised copy. The revised counter shall be filed within ten days thereof. The rejoinder, if any, within a week thereof shall be listed on November 24,” the order said.
The petition filed by Angmo challenges Wangchuk’s detention under the NSA, saying the authorities have acted arbitrarily and failed to follow mandatory procedural safeguards.
The Ladakh administration in its previous affidavit had said that the reasons for the detention were informed to the activist within the stipulated period.
Wangchuk, a prominent environmentalist and education reformer, was detained in September after being accused of inciting unrest in Leh during a protest. He was later shifted to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan.
–IANS
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