National desk
8 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Delhi High Court is set to hear a petition on Wednesday seeking permission for environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk and others to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar or another suitable location in Delhi. The petition was filed by Apex Body Leh, stating that Wangchuk, along with around 200 supporters, embarked on a peaceful protest march from Leh, Ladakh to Delhi to raise awareness about the environmental and cultural decline of Ladakh and the broader Himalayan region.
The march, covering over 900 kilometers in 30 days, aimed to highlight these pressing issues. However, when the group sought to hold an awareness campaign and protest at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police denied their request on October 5. A rejection letter was sent to the petitioner organization.
Wangchuk and his associates were reportedly detained by local police at the Delhi border on September 30 as they were marching towards the capital, demanding the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to protect its cultural and environmental heritage. Though Wangchuk was released later, the denial of permission for the protest has led to the legal petition, awaiting the court’s decision.