New Delhi: With his ‘climate fast’ entering its fourth day, Sonam Wangchuk — the renowned engineer, educationist and reformer from Ladakh — has claimed that he has been placed under house arrest by the Union Territory administration.
Wangchuk, who inspired Aamir Khan’s iconic character in 3 Idiots, also claimed that the administration has asked him to sign a bond under section 107 of the CrPC.
The bond essentially bars him from participating in public events or making statements that could lead to a breach of peace. It also limits his movements to the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) of which he is the founding director.
GOOD MORNING WORLD!
4th day of my #ClimateFast to #SaveLadakh under #6thSchedule of Indian constitution.
You all can join me tomorrow 30th Jan, last day of my fast. You can organise a 1 day fast in your area in solidarity with #Ladakh & ur own surroundings#climate #ILiveSimply pic.twitter.com/tCBDqeB0Rv— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) January 29, 2023
Last Sunday, Wangchuk — while addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a YouTube video — had said, “All is not well in Ladakh.”
He argued that with the melting of glaciers, an environmental catastrophe loomed large in the region and could be disastrous for India in the long run. Wangchuk also warned against mining and unplanned development in Ladakh.
In the video, he also appealed to PM Modi to grant Ladakh protection for its tribal and indigenous people under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. These protections, he added, were conferred to the people of Ladakh via Article 370 which now stands nullified.
Consequently, Wangchuk then declared that he would hold a five-day hunger strike from 26 January to 30 January to emphasise his demands.
A central element to his hunger strike is the appeal for protection for the people of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule. The demand has been raised many times in the past, including in Parliament in 2021 by BJP MP from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal.
Essentially, the Sixth Schedule under Article 244 of the Constitution provides for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions within a state. These divisions are governed by autonomous councils which can make laws aimed at protecting the cultural identity and safeguarding the interests of India’s tribal population.
Currently, the Sixth Schedule is in effect in Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura.
Though the hunger strike was originally planned at Khardungla pass, Wangchuk was prevented from travelling to the 18,380-feet-high mountain pass on account of heavy snowfall and road blockages. He then decided to continue his strike at the HIAL.
On 28 January, the third day of his hunger strike, Wangchuk said he had been asked to sign a legal bond by the Ladakh administration.
Consequently, Wangchuk took to social media to seek legal advice about the bond which was invoked under section 107 of the CrPC which empowers a magistrate, in cases of emergency when a breach of the peace is imminent, to order an accused to furnish a security pending the completion of enquiry.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: Melting glaciers, water scarcity, exodus: How climate change reality is biting Ladakh villages