‘In AI's Era...’: SC Questions Centre Over Videos' Transcriptions In Sonam Wangchuk Detention Case

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 22:23 IST

The Supreme Court questioned the Centre on transcript accuracy in Sonam Wangchuk's NSA detention, demanding the actual speech.

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Central government over the accuracy of transcripts of videos cited against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).

While hearing a petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, challenging the activist’s detention, a bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice PB Varale said it wanted the “actual transcript" of Wangchuk’s speeches, after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Wangchuk, argued that the government had failed to respond to key objections raised earlier.

The bench noted that the version placed on record appeared far longer and materially different from what Wangchuk had actually said.

“Mr Solicitor, we want an actual transcript of the speech. What he relied upon and what you say are different. We will decide. There should be an actual transcript of what he says. You may have your reasons. At least, whatever he stated, the true translation should be there… Your translation goes on for 7 to 8 minutes, but the speech is for 3 minutes. We are in the era of Artificial Intelligence; precision is at least 98 per cent for translation," the bench observed as reported by news agency PTI.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj said a department prepared the transcripts and that government lawyers were “not experts" in the matter.

Sibal argued that the detention order relied on “non-existent material" and questioned references in the transcript that allegedly accused Wangchuk of provoking youth and citing Nepal. He said such statements did not appear in the original speech and called the detention order “unique" for relying on material that does not exist.

“Wangchuk continued his strike… and also continued to provoke youth by taking reference of Nepal… Where is this line coming from? This is a very unique detention order — you rely on something that does not exist and then you say it is based on subjective satisfaction," Sibal said.

Nataraj told the top court that there is a department for transcripts and said, “We are not experts in it."

Sibal also contended that key speeches, including one in which Wangchuk allegedly called off his fast and appealed for non-violence, were not placed before the detaining authority. He further argued that several videos relied upon were over a year old and unrelated to the detention.

On a lighter note, the Bench referred to an Urdu couplet: “Humne wo bhi suna jo unhone kaha hi nahi" (We even heard what they never said). Sibal responded, “Aur jo hum keh rahe hai unhone suna hi nahi" (And what we are saying, they didn’t hear at all), prompting the Court to reply, “Hum sun rahe hai na" (We are listening, aren’t we?).

During the hearing, the top court directed that the pen drive containing the videos shown to Wangchuk be submitted in a sealed cover. It asked that the device be sealed either by the detenue himself or in his presence and handed over to officials for submission to the Bench.

The Centre had earlier told the apex court that Wangchuk had been examined medically 24 times since his detention and that he was “fit, hale and hearty." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the grounds on which Wangchuk’s detention order was passed continue to exist and that it would not be possible to release him on health grounds.

Wangchuk was detained following protests in Leh in September 2025 over demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. Angmo has argued that violence that occurred on September 24 cannot be attributed to Wangchuk. She said the activist had condemned the violence on social media and described it as the “saddest day" of his life.

The matter will be heard next on February 19.

News india ‘In AI's Era...’: SC Questions Centre Over Videos' Transcriptions In Sonam Wangchuk Detention Case

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