March 17-23, 2026
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal pressed for a hearing on the merits of the detention order. However, the matter was declared as infructuous by the court, with the bench orally stating that there is nothing left to decide. Furthermore, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested the Senior Advocate to “let it be”.
March 14, 2026
The petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife was listed about 24 times before the Supreme Court before the detention was suddenly revoked by the Union government with the petition subsequently being disposed of without any adjudication.
March 10, 2026
The case was adjourned to March 17, 2026, as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was not available for the hearing as he was not keeping well.
February 26, 2026
The court said that it would watch the videos of Wangchuk’s speeches submitted during the Holi break and adjourned the case to March 10, 2026.
February 23, 2026
The case was adjourned to February 26, 2026 as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was not available for the hearing.
February 19, 2026
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal informed the Court that Wangchuk was only shown thumbnails of the folders and that he never got the chance to watch the videos. The centre also requested additional time for the matter regarding the translation. However, Sibal opposed the plea, stating that “this can’t go on forever”. The court was adjourned to February 23, 2026.
February 16, 2026
The Supreme Court questioned the Centre about the accuracy of video transcripts used to justify the detention of Wangchuk. The bench emphasised that translations must be precise, pointing out that besides issues in translation, the provided transcripts were significantly longer than the actual three-minute speeches. The case was adjourned to February 19, 2026.
February 12, 2026
The union government argued that Wangchuk was the “Chief Provocateur" and that his detention was justified because it successfully brought the September violence in Leh under control. The Court also questioned whether Wangchuk had actually watched the four specific videos used as the primary basis for his detention order, asking the government to produce a specific endorsement proving he had seen them. The bench then adjourned the hearing to February 16, 2026.
February 11, 2026
The Union government informed the court that Wangchuk was “fit, hale and hearty” and that there was no medical reason to release him from detention. The court also raised doubts over the connection the centre was making between Wangchuk’s speeches and the violence that broke out in Leh back in September 2025 and said that they were “reading too much into it”. The case was adjourned to February 12, 2026.
February 9, 2026
The case was adjourned to February 11, 2026 as the centre sought more time for the case. The court simultaneously cautioned against more adjournments due to the matter being a Habeas Corpus.
February 5, 2026
The bench deferred the matter to February 9, 2026.
February 4, 2026
The court asked the Union government if it is possible to rethink the detention due to Wangchuk’s deteriorating health. However, the Union government refused. The case was adjourned to February 5, 2026.
February 3, 2026
The Union government informed the Supreme Court that the NSA gives it the power to shift Wangchuk to Rajasthan due to his alleged role in inciting unrest. The government defended the detention as necessary and stated that he was being treated fairly. The case was adjourned to February 4, 2026.
February 2, 2026
The centre told the Supreme Court that Wangchuk's "us" vs "them" narrative justified his detention under the NSA. However, Wangchuk's wife argues that it is his democratic right to protest and is not a national security threat. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2026.
January 29, 2026
Wangchuk’s wife refuted allegations that her husband made a statement to overthrow the government like the Arab Spring. She also emphasised his right to protest and criticise the government. Furthermore, she also refuted allegations of him saying that the people of Ladakh would not help the Indian Army in case of any external aggression. Finally, she also denied the allegation that he had made any derogatory remarks against Hindu gods and said some IT cell falsely projected it. The case was adjourned to February 2, 2026.
January 13, 2026
The Court deferred the matter to January 29, 2026.
January 12, 2026
Wangchuk’s wife argued that the detaining authority had not applied its mind and relied on irrelevant material while detaining her husband. The case was adjourned to January 13, 2026 as the matter remained inconclusive.
January 8, 2026
Substantive hearing began January 8. 2026 onwards. Wangchuk’s wife told the Supreme Court that his speech aimed to stop violence and not incite it. She alleged manipulation of facts and procedural lapses in his detention. The Union government defended itself by stating that there were no lapses. As the hearing remained inconclusive, the court was adjourned to January 12, 2026.
January 7, 2026
The case was adjourned to January 8, 2026, after the bench of judges agreed to give time to examine the case.
December 15, 2025
The case was adjourned to January 7, 2026 due to “paucity of time”.
December 8, 2025
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, had requested permission for Wangchuk to address the court virtually. However, the centre opposed the plea, stating, “We will have to give the same treatment to all convicts across the country.” Shortly after, the case was adjourned to December 15, 2025.
November 24, 2025
The Supreme Court adjourned the case to December 8, 2025 the hearing of the plea after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh in the court, sought time to respond to the rejoinder lodged by Wangchuk’s wife.
October 29-30, 2025
Wangchuk's wife informs the Supreme Court that the detention is "arbitrary" and based on "stale, irrelevant, and extraneous FIRs." The petition argues that Wangchuk had no connection to the violence, as he was peacefully protesting, and that four out of the five FIRs cited do not even name him. As of early November 2025, Sonam Wangchuk remains in detention in Jodhpur. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for his case for November 24, 2025.
October 06, 2025
The Supreme Court of India issues a notice to the central government and the Ladakh Union Territory administration. This is in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, challenging the legality of his detention under the NSA.
September 26, 2025
Sonam Wangchuk was arrested by the Ladakh Police. He is detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), which allows for preventive detention. The Ladakh administration accuses him of instigating the violence through "provocative statements" and "prejudicial activities."
Following the arrest, he is moved from Ladakh and transferred to the Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan.
September 25, 2025
In the wake of the violence, Sonam Wangchuk ends his 15-day hunger strike. On the same day, the Union Home Ministry cancels the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) license of his NGO, the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL).
September 24, 2025
On the 15th day of the fast, protests in Leh turn violent. Clashes break out, resulting in the tragic deaths of four individuals and injuries to dozens more.
September 10, 2025
Sonam Wangchuk begins an indefinite hunger strike in Leh. The protest's primary demands are for Ladakh's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and for full statehood.
