Even as the Supreme Court of India continues to hear a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention of Ladakh-based activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk for over five months under the National Security Act, the Centre on Saturday decided to revoke his detention and set him free.
Wangchuk had moved the top court challenging the preventive detention order issued by the Leh district administration in September 2025, arguing that the action was arbitrary and violated his personal liberty. The matter has been under consideration before the court, even as the government now appears to have taken a step aimed at de-escalating tensions in Ladakh and creating space for dialogue with regional stakeholders.
Ministry of Home Affairs said the move was aimed at fostering peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh to enable constructive dialogue with all stakeholders.
Wangchuk had been detained on September 26, 2025, under orders issued by the District Magistrate of Leh after authorities cited concerns about law and order following protests in the town two days earlier.
The government noted that Wangchuk had already undergone nearly half the maximum detention period permissible under the NSA.
The revocation of detention is widely seen as an attempt to ease tensions in Ladakh, where months of protests, shutdowns and demonstrations have disrupted normal life and affected sectors such as tourism, trade and education.
Protests rooted in post-2019 political changes
Wangchuk emerged as one of the most visible public faces of Ladakh’s political mobilisation after the region became a Union Territory following the Revocation of Article 370. While many in Ladakh had initially welcomed separation from Jammu and Kashmir, concerns gradually grew about the absence of constitutional safeguards and elected political institutions.
Tensions escalated in September 2025 when protests intensified in Leh. Authorities subsequently invoked the NSA to detain Wangchuk, arguing that the measure was necessary to maintain public order. The decision sparked criticism from activists and political groups in Ladakh who argued that the preventive detention of a widely respected public figure risked deepening mistrust between the Centre and the region’s residents.
Key issues driving the Ladakh movement
At the heart of the protests lies a demand for constitutional protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which currently provides safeguards for tribal areas in several northeastern states.
Ladakhi groups argue that such a framework would help protect the region’s fragile ecosystem, cultural identity and land ownership patterns.
Another major demand concerns political representation. Since Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature in 2019, decision-making powers largely rest with the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor.
Many local organisations have therefore called for either full statehood or the creation of an elected legislative assembly.
Concerns over land rights and employment opportunities have also been central to the agitation. Local groups fear that the absence of constitutional safeguards could open the door to large-scale land acquisition by outside investors and reduce opportunities for local youth in government employment.
Dialogue as the next step
By revoking Wangchuk’s detention, the government appears to be signalling a willingness to de-escalate tensions and revive dialogue with local stakeholders. The MHA said the objective remains to create conditions conducive to “constructive and meaningful engagement” through the High-Powered Committee and other platforms.
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Whether the move leads to substantive progress will depend on the contours of the dialogue that follows. For Ladakhi groups, the central question remains whether the Centre is prepared to translate consultations into concrete constitutional and political safeguards for the region.
All eyes will now be on the Supreme Court of India, which is scheduled to hear the habeas corpus petition filed by Sonam Wangchuk next week, challenging his detention under the National Security Act.
Although the Centre has now revoked the detention order, the hearing is expected to remain significant as the court may still examine the legality and procedural validity of the preventive detention imposed by the Leh district administration in September 2025. The proceedings could also clarify broader legal principles governing the use of preventive detention laws in situations involving political protests and civil mobilisation.