The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and the Delhi Government on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking urgent medical intervention for activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar while demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
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A Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia took note of the urgency after the PIL, filed by advocate and activist Rakesh Kumar Saini, was mentioned before it. The court directed both governments to file their responses and listed the matter for hearing on Thursday.
Observing that no one was present on behalf of the Union Government when the matter was taken up, the Bench said it was inclined to entertain the petition considering the urgency. It directed the Centre to obtain necessary instructions before the next hearing and asked that copies of the petition and its order be served on the law officers representing the Centre and the Delhi Government.
The plea seeks directions to the authorities to shift Wangchuk to a government hospital and provide medical treatment, including nutritional support if necessary, to prevent any threat to his life.
According to the petition, Wangchuk’s health has deteriorated significantly during the fast. It claims he has lost around 8.5 kg since beginning the hunger strike and warns that his condition could become life-threatening if the protest continues.
The petitioner argued that allowing the activist’s health to worsen without intervention would have serious consequences and urged the authorities to ensure he receives immediate medical care, even if such treatment has to be administered without his consent.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining protests at Jantar Mantar organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demanding the resignation of the Education Minister over alleged examination paper leaks and irregularities in the education system. The protest campaign began on June 20.
The petition further alleged that the authorities had failed to respond adequately to Wangchuk’s deteriorating health and claimed he was being subjected to unfair treatment despite exercising his democratic right to protest.
It contended that the government has a constitutional duty to protect the life of every citizen and should ensure Wangchuk receives appropriate medical attention. The plea suggested that he be admitted to a government hospital where essential nutrition and fluids could be administered to preserve his life.
The petitioner also appealed to the court to intervene, expressing confidence that the judiciary would uphold its constitutional responsibility to safeguard life and direct the Centre and the Delhi Government to take immediate steps to prevent any irreversible harm to the activist.