Delhi HC Orders Daily Health Monitoring of Sonam Wangchuk

Court Says Every Life Is Precious

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia made the order while hearing a PIL seeking immediate medical help for Wangchuk.

In view of the submission of the Center that Wangchuk’s health was already being looked after by doctors of the government and by other specialists, the court ordered that he be medically attended to on a day to day basis and to treat him according to requirement.

"We would like this person to be regularly medically checked by government doctors and, depending on the report of the doctors, if any medication is required, please intervene. Every life is precious," the Court observed.

Centre Assures Continuous Health Supervision

Appearing for the Center, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that Wangchuk's health was being examined on a day to day basis by doctors of the government and that all the necessary medical treatment will be provided by doctors depending upon their advice.

“We appreciate the stand taken by the learned Solicitor General and direct that Wangchuk's medical condition be clinically monitored on a daily basis and whatever medical intervention is required shall be taken,” the Court said.

PIL Seeks Urgent Medical Intervention

A PIL was moved before the court by advocate Rakesh Kumar Saini seeking to the directions of the Centre and the Delhi government so as to protect the life and health of climate activist Wangchuk and also asking them to provide necessary medical treatment, including, moving him to a hospital, to provide force-feeding as the circumstances demand.

The plea also asked them to fulfill the requirements by providing nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in the form of a liquid diet. Wangchuk is on indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar since June 28 demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET row.

Wangchuk Refuses To End Hunger Strike

Meanwhile, pushing back on appeals to end his fast, Wangchuk shared a video message on X asserting that this was not the time to break the protest, otherwise it will only send out the message to the government that there are no real consequences to the public's dissent.

He reassured the public that test reports including same-day ECG report showed largely normal, though with loss of muscle mass, and assured he could continue for some days. He also requested the public to turn up in large numbers for the July 20 march to parliament.

“It is not bad. So that is why I can walk for many days now. Yes, there is weakness. My muscles are getting tired. but my heart and core are still fine. So instead of just saying 'break the fast', I would request you take a small step. Come in large numbers on July 20 (the day of the CJP protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar) so a message goes to the government. All of us together will hand over this issue to the MPs. I will then believe the matter has gone into the right hands," Wangchuk said.