A public interest litigation has been moved before the Delhi High Court seeking urgent medical intervention for activist Sonam Wangchuk, including force-feeding if required, as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 18th day amid mounting concerns over his health.
The petition asks the court to direct the Centre and the Delhi government to shift Wangchuk to a government hospital, with the petitioner claiming his physical condition has deteriorated sharply during the fast at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Filed by activist-lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, the plea comes as organisers of the protest say Wangchuk has lost around 8.5 kg since beginning his fast.
According to the petition, Wangchuk's health has declined to a critical stage, with the petitioner claiming he could lose his life within two days if the hunger strike continues. The plea urges the court to intervene without delay, arguing that protecting his life must take precedence.
The petitioner has sought directions for Wangchuk to be admitted to a government hospital and, if necessary, provided a medically supervised liquid diet containing essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals to prevent any further deterioration. It argues that such treatment should be administered even if it is against Wangchuk's wishes.
"The simple thing to be done is to take him to a government hospital and force feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals by way of a liquid diet which are necessary for the human body to survive," it said.
"If he passes away, it would be a matter of great shame for the country and the world," the plea further stated.
The PIL alleges that the government has failed in its duty to safeguard Wangchuk's well-being. It claims the authorities are treating the activist "like a hardcore criminal, terrorist or traitor to the nation" and are "not at all concerned about him". The petition contends that the government must ensure he receives medical treatment, even if that requires intervention against his consent.
While acknowledging that peaceful protests and hunger strikes are protected democratic rights, the plea argues that the State also has a constitutional obligation to protect the life and health of every citizen.
It further states that permitting Wangchuk's condition to worsen without medical intervention would amount to a dereliction of the government's constitutional and public duties. Citing provisions relating to abetment of suicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the petition maintains that authorities cannot remain passive when a person's life is at immediate risk.
The PIL was filed with a request for urgent listing and could have been taken up by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. However, it remains unclear whether the matter will be heard after the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) announced an abstention from work on July 15 to protest the proposed increase in the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts from Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore.
Wangchuk has been observing an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining demonstrations organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. The protest is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in NEET and other competitive examinations.
Organisers have said Wangchuk has shed approximately 8.5 kg since the fast began, heightening concerns about his health.
Several Opposition leaders have appealed to Wangchuk to end his hunger strike while expressing support for the issues he has raised. Earlier, author Arundhati Roy, actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, and economist Jayati Ghosh also urged him to call off the fast while backing his demands.
