The Delhi High Court Today (Oct 9) sought the response of the Delhi Police to a plea seeking permission for Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk and others to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in national capital. Court asked the authorities to respond to the plea by October 16 and ordered listing of the case on October 22. Apex Body Leh, an organisation based in Ladakh, moved the HC seeking directions to the Delhi govt and Delhi Police to allow Wangchuk and others, who came to the national capital on foot, to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar from October 8 to October 23.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court asked for the response of the Delhi Police to a plea submitted by Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk and others, seeking permission to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
The Division Bench, consisting of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma, has requested that the authorities respond by October 16 and listed the matter for further hearing on October 22.
The petition was filed by Apex Body Leh, an organization from Ladakh, which requested that the Delhi government and Delhi Police allow Wangchuk and his group, who walked to Delhi, to peacefully demonstrate at Jantar Mantar from October 8 to October 23.
The group began their march from Leh on September 1 to raise awareness about the “ecological and cultural collapse” occurring in Ladakh. Their central demand is for the Union Territory to be brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Sixth Schedule aims to protect the rights and identity of locals in tribal areas by granting them autonomous administrative control.
It currently applies to Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram in northeast India, and the activists are seeking similar protections for Ladakh.
Upon reaching the outskirts of Delhi, Wangchuk and the other protestors were detained by police at Singhu Border on September 30, although they were later released. Following their release, they sought official permission to continue their protest at Jantar Mantar. However, on October 5, the Delhi Police denied their request.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the group’s request for an early listing of the matter, stating,
“There cannot be any urgency for proceeding on any fast or dharna.”
Mehta emphasized that urgency was not required for such activities.
The activists, however, challenged the police’s decision, arguing that the refusal to allow a peaceful protest violates their fundamental rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. Their petition noted,
“Delhi Police could have exercised their discretion to grant permission for the anshan at an alternative location, rather than outright denying the request, which directly contravenes the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution of India.”
Sonam Wangchuk has previously undertaken hunger strikes to press for these demands, which also include greater environmental protection for Ladakh. The ongoing protest aims to draw attention to the region’s ecological challenges and its cultural identity amidst rapid changes.
The High Court’s decision in this case will be closely watched as it deals with the balance between maintaining public order and safeguarding the right to peaceful protest.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Sonam Wangchuk
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