Ladakh returned to normalcy after Sonam Wangchuk detention, govt tells SC

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday told Supreme Court that normalcy returned in the UT of Ladakh after the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the decision to take him into custody proved to be right and justified. Additional solicitor general (ASG) K M Nataraj told a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale the agitation and violence in Ladakh came under control after Wangchuk's detention as he was the chief provocateur in Sept last year. "He was the chief provocateur that led to the violence in which four people were killed. After his detention, the agitation and violence came under control. Hence, it was proved that the detention order was a perfect order, which was justified in the situation," Nataraj said. Concluding his submission, the ASG said all procedural requirements were meticulously complied with during Wangchuk's detention. "Once there is compliance of statutory requirements, there is no question to sit over the subjective satisfaction of the detaining authority.

Such order can be passed on suspicion or reasonable probability," he said. Hearing will resume on Feb 16 when senior advocate Kapil Sibal argues the case on behalf of Wangchuk.