Delhi High Court Orders Medical Supervision for Sonam Wangchuk and Other Hunger Strikers at Jantar Mantar
Sunil Negi
The Delhi High Court has stepped in to address the worsening health condition of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other protestors who are on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
While hearing a petition concerning the health of the agitators, the High Court on Monday observed that the health of every citizen is extremely important and cannot be ignored under any circumstances. The court specifically referred to Sonam Wangchuk, who is on the 19th day of his hunger strike, and directed that senior government doctors be deputed to regularly monitor his health condition.
Wangchuk has been sitting on protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The demand is linked to issues of education policy and student welfare that have been raised by various student organizations in recent weeks. Along with Wangchuk, several activists of AISO are also part of the indefinite hunger strike at the same venue.
During the hearing, the court expressed concern over the prolonged nature of the fast and the possible medical complications that can arise from it. The bench said that if the health of Wangchuk or any other protestor deteriorates further, they must be immediately shifted to hospital and admitted for proper treatment. The objective, the court noted, is to save precious lives.
The Delhi High Court made it clear that its directions are not limited to Wangchuk alone. The court said that the same standard of medical care must be extended to all other AISO activists who are participating in the indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. This means regular health check-ups by senior government doctors and immediate hospitalization if doctors advise so.
Medical experts have repeatedly warned that a hunger strike extending beyond two weeks can lead to severe consequences including electrolyte imbalance, organ stress, drop in immunity, and risk of infection. In such a situation, timely medical intervention becomes critical. The court’s intervention comes at a time when there is growing public concern over the health of the protestors.
The petition before the High Court had highlighted the deteriorating condition of the strikers and sought urgent directions for medical assistance. The court, while not commenting on the merits of the protest or the demands being raised, focused entirely on the humanitarian aspect of the issue. It emphasized that the right to protest is protected, but it cannot come at the cost of life and health.
Following the court’s order, it is expected that a team of senior doctors from a government hospital will be assigned for daily monitoring at the protest site. They will be tasked with checking vital parameters, conducting necessary tests, and making recommendations for hospital admission wherever required.
This development brings the spotlight back on the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar, which has now entered its third week. Sonam Wangchuk, known for his work in the field of education and sustainable development in Ladakh, has been leading the agitation. The participation of student organizations like AISO has also drawn attention from across the country.
The Delhi High Court’s direction is being seen as an important step to ensure that while democratic protest continues, the health and safety of the participants are not compromised. Authorities will now have to ensure compliance with the court’s order and provide adequate medical support on the ground.
As the hunger strike continues, all eyes will be on both the government’s response to the demands and the health updates of the protestors in the coming days.
