Delhi Police tells High Court

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by the Leh Apex Body seeking direction to the authorities to allow the group of people from Ladakh led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

The pleas were rejected after Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, told the High Court that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and her associates from Ladakh have withdrawn their protest and fasted after the discussions.

A division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Amit Sharma dismissed the pleas as withdrawn.

The petition sought permission to allow Sonam Wangchuk and others to stage a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar to raise environmental awareness and demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.

The high court after upholding the withdrawal of the petition by the petitioner’s counsel dismissed it as withdrawn.

The petition was moved by Apex Body Leh, an organization that claims to work to protect cultural environmental interests of Ladakh. The march which was led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk along with at least 200 people from Ladakh was organized by this organization.

The petition filed by the Ladakh body said that by denying permission, the Delhi Police is taking away their fundamental right and limiting their ability to engage in public discourse, undermining the principle of open expression. The petition further adds that the Delhi Police did not provide any valid or reasonable reason for rejecting the request to hold peaceful protest.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court disposed of three petitions seeking the release of Sonam Wangchuk and others and their production before the court following a submission by the petitioner that the climate activist and other detainees had been released.