Delhi High Court Rejects Sonam Wangchuk Hospital Transfer Plea on Day 22 of Hunger Strike
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Jul 18
Delhi High Court Rejects Sonam Wangchuk Hospital Transfer Plea on Day 22 of Hunger Strike
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Jul 18
Summary
Delhi High Court on Sunday refused to let Sonam Wangchuk move from Safdarjung Hospital to a private facility after an urgent plea from his wife, Gitanjali Angmo.
The court said authorities were justified in shifting the activist to a government hospital when his health deteriorated, and ordered a status report within three days before the next hearing on July 24.
Wangchuk was taken to hospital by Delhi Police on the 21st day of his fast; he has been on hunger strike since June 28 in solidarity with students demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
The legal fight comes a day before a planned July 20 march to Parliament, which police say lacks approval because prohibitory orders are in force around the Monsoon Session.
When an activist's hunger strike becomes a medical crisis, who has the final say: the protestor or the state?
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20 Days of Protest: Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike, NEET Controversy, and the Student Uprising at Jantar Mantar
Overview
On July 19, 2026, Dr. Gitanjali Angmo filed a plea to transfer her husband, activist Sonam Wangchuk, from Safdarjung Hospital to a private facility due to his deteriorating health. The Delhi High Court convened a special Sunday sitting but refused the request, emphasizing the government's right to intervene in Wangchuk's medical care since he had not voluntarily sought hospital treatment. The court found the government justified in shifting him and noted that doctors at Safdarjung Hospital were closely monitoring his condition. This decision highlights the tension between individual autonomy and state intervention during high-profile protests.