Delhi High Court Denies Plea to Move Hunger Striker Sonam Wangchuk to Private Hospital

The Delhi High Court has declined an urgent plea by activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, to transfer him from Safdarjung Hospital to a private facility. Wangchuk was forcibly admitted to the government hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday, the 21st day of his hunger strike.

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Wangchuk is not in detention, but the wife, brother and brother-in-law have been given access.

Angmo had approached the court seeking immediate permission to shift her husband, alleging she was not receiving accurate information about his health. She expressed a loss of faith in the government hospital and feared his condition would deteriorate further. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Angmo, argued that the hospital was denying access to Wangchuk's personal doctors and lawyers, and that his prescribed treatments were unknown.

However, Justice Mini Pushkarna noted that Wangchuk was not under detention and that his wife, brother, and brother-in-law had been granted access. The court acknowledged that "every life is precious" and observed that Wangchuk's family members were provided a separate room and allowed to spend time with him. Consequently, the court decided that "no interim order is required to be passed at this stage."

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Every life is precious.

The court has requested a status report on Wangchuk's health within three days and has scheduled the next hearing for July 24. Wangchuk began his indefinite hunger strike on June 28, protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance examination and demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

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Considering this, no interim order is required to be passed at this stage.

During the hearing, the government's counsel, additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma, explained that Wangchuk's health had deteriorated significantly after 18 days of fasting in the prevailing weather conditions. He cited the risk of ketosis and potential electrolyte imbalances like hypokalemia, which could lead to shock. The court acknowledged the government's action, stating that since Wangchuk had not voluntarily sought medical attention, the government was within its rights to intervene.

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The hospital is not been giving access to his own doctors, lawyers; and they do not know what he is being prescribed.