The Delhi High Court is set to hear a pivotal case concerning the right of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and about 200 participants to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar, following their long march from Leh to Delhi. The protest, organized by the Apex Body Leh, aims to shed light on the pressing environmental and cultural issues threatening the Ladakh region and the broader Himalayan area.
Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela will oversee the plea, which invokes Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Indian Constitution, guaranteeing the right to free speech and peaceful assembly. The plea comes in the wake of the Delhi Police’s refusal to allow the protest at Jantar Mantar, citing reasons that the petitioners argue are neither valid nor reasonable.
This legal challenge highlights a significant chapter in the activists’ journey, which began with a 30-day, 900-kilometer march from Leh to the capital. This march, a peaceful yet powerful statement, seeks to draw attention to the ecological degradation and cultural erosion in Ladakh—a region undergoing rapid environmental changes.
