Activist Sonam Wangchuk has agreed to end his three-week-old hunger strike if two of his conditions are fulfilled, his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, announced on Sunday, hours after the Delhi High Court declined permission to move him from the government-run Safdarjang Hospital to a private facility.
Wangchuk, who has been demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the recent NEET question paper leaks, will end his hunger strike on Monday if political leaders meet him and assure him that the issue of accountability in education will be raised in Parliament during the Monsoon Session, which starts tomorrow, she said.
On Saturday morning, the Delhi police forcibly removed Wangchuk from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and shifted him to the hospital.
A bench led by Justice Mini Pushkarna ruled this afternoon that the government was well within its rights to shift him since he did not admit himself to hospital despite his failing health.
“No interim orders are required to be passed at this stage,” she stated.
Also read: Sonam Wangchuk To Remain In Government Hospital, Court Denies Interim Relief
Angmo had vowed she would challenge the order before a bench of two judges, senior advocate Vivek Tankha told NDTV.
“Since doctors of the hospital are closely monitoring him and gave him oral medicine with his consent, it cannot be said that force is being used or his autonomy is being violated,” Justice Pushkarna said.
The court also observed that the government’s decision to shift him could not prima facie be termed arbitrary and did not infringe his personal liberty.
Angmo wanted to shift him to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, contending that Wangchuk had been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital without his or his family’s consent. Her plea also argued that he was being confined against his wishes.
The Central government submitted to the court that his health had worsened due to the prolonged fast and his dwindling health parameters.
Referring to a division bench order dated July 16, in which the authorities were directed to monitor his health and intervene if needed, the high court observed that the government shifted him to the hospital in compliance with those directions.
Earlier today, Wangchuk issued a message from the hospital urging supporters to participate in the proposed July 20 march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party.
Also read: Sonam Wangchuk Removed From Protest Site, Taken To Hospital On Day 21 Of Hunger Strike
Sonam Wangchuk Health Update
According to the hospital, Sonam Wangchuk’s vital parameters are stable. His blood parameters have shown minor improvement but need constant monitoring.
Because of the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting, he requires continuous medical care under the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of experts.
He also needs sustained medical intervention, and round-the-clock clinical monitoring remains essential.