Jammu, March 14 The Jammu and Kashmir Congress welcomed the Centre's decision to revoke the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, claiming that the decision was made amid mounting pressure from his case in the Supreme Court and growing public support in Ladakh.
The party, however, raised serious questions about the circumstances that led to his detention for more than six months "without clear justification", while also pushing for the release of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik, who was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in September last year.
The Centre said on Saturday that it has revoked Wangchuk's detention under the National Security Act, nearly six months after he was arrested following violent protests in Leh that left four dead.
The decision, which the Centre said was to foster peace in Ladakh, comes days after the Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to March 17 the hearing on a plea filed by the activist's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, challenging his detention.
Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, two days after the protests over demands for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution rocked Leh.
"The revocation of Wangchuk's detention, under pressure from his case in the SC and the people of Ladakh, is welcome, but who is responsible for his detention for over six months in jail, without justification?"
"The LG (Lt Governor of J&K) should also consider revoking the PSA of MLA Mehraj Malik," JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said in a post on X.
On February 23, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh reserved its order on a petition contesting the detention of Malik, who is the AAP's Jammu and Kashmir unit president, and detained under the PSA on September 8 last year for allegedly disturbing public order.