Delhi HC Directs Daily Medical Monitoring of Sonam Wangchuk Amid Indefinite Hunger Strike

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Government and the Delhi Administration to ensure that the medical condition of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is monitored daily on both clinical and general parameters. The court ordered that any medical intervention deemed necessary by doctors to address his deteriorating health must be provided promptly.

The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, issued the directive during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The petition sought immediate judicial intervention to safeguard Mr. Wangchuk’s life as his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar entered its nineteenth day.

Court Intervenes on Health Mechanisms

During the proceedings, the Bench questioned the state's oversight mechanism regarding the activist's physical wellbeing.

“Mr. Solicitor, is there any mechanism in place to check the health condition of this person?” the court enquired.

Responding to the Bench, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that Mr. Wangchuk undergoes a daily medical check-up.

Following the submission, the High Court observed that the activist must be regularly evaluated by government-appointed medical officers, directing authorities to step in whenever doctors consider treatment necessary.

“He [Solicitor General Mehta] further assures the court that depending upon the opinion of the doctors, whatever medical intervention is needed to check the deteriorating health condition of Mr. Wangchuk will also be taken,” the Bench recorded in its final order.

Disposing of the PIL with these directives, the Bench added, “While noticing the assurances given by the Solicitor General, we only observe that the life of any citizen is precious and efforts ought to be made by the government authorities to save the same.”

Claims of Deteriorating Health and Legal Liabilities

The PIL was moved by advocate and social activist Rakesh Kumar Saini, who expressed deep concern over the activist's rapid weight loss and weakening physical state after prolonged fasting. The petitioner relied on a report published by The Hindu on July 14, titled "Fasting Student Hospitalized, Wangchuk loses 8.25 kg as strike continues," to substantiate the urgency of the medical emergency.

Mr. Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since June 28, demanding systemic reforms in the country’s education system and seeking the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The petition argued that the state machinery could not remain a passive spectator to a citizen's declining health on public grounds. It contended that a failure to intervene timely could legally amount to the “abetment of suicide” under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The plea urged the court to authorize medical teams to administer critical nutrients, vitamins, and minerals through a liquid diet or shift the activist to a government hospital facility forcibly if required to preserve his life.