Delhi High Court Allows Sonam Wangchuk’s Transfer to Medanta Hospital Amid Ongoing Hunger Strike
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday allowed activist Sonam Wangchuk to be shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, saying the move would help protect his fundamental rights while ensuring he continues to receive proper medical care. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
A Bench headed by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said Wangchuk should be moved immediately to the hospital of his choice. The court also directed that a team of specialist doctors at Medanta should continuously monitor his health.
The order came after Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, challenged an earlier decision that had refused permission to move him from the government-run Safdarjung Hospital. After the High Court’s ruling, Angmo thanked the court in a post on X, saying she was grateful that her husband would now receive treatment at the hospital chosen by the family.
During the hearing, the court examined medical reports prepared by doctors from Safdarjung Hospital, AIIMS, and private medical experts. Wangchuk’s lawyer, senior advocate Akhil Sibal, argued that although Wangchuk remained weak after his prolonged hunger strike, his condition was stable and could be monitored safely at Medanta.
Government doctors informed the court that Wangchuk’s white blood cell count was lower than normal, increasing the risk of infection and making close medical supervision necessary.
The Centre told the High Court that it had no objection to Wangchuk being shifted to Medanta, clearing the way for the court to approve the transfer.
Before the transfer was approved, Wangchuk had announced that he would continue his hunger strike until youth leaders protesting over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak were allowed to meet Members of Parliament, or MPs visited him at the hospital.
In a letter read out before the court, Wangchuk claimed he was being kept under heavy police watch at the hospital. According to his lawyer, he said visitors were being searched, his communication devices had been taken away, and access to him was being tightly controlled.
Wangchuk was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital earlier this week after Delhi Police removed him from the protest site at Jantar Mantar, saying they were acting under a court order to protect his life after his health deteriorated during his hunger strike.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and submitted their demands, including accountability over the alleged examination paper leaks. The CJP said it would continue its peaceful protest until its demands are addressed
