Delhi High Court Orders Daily Health Monitoring for Activist on Hunger Strike
Court Directs Health Monitoring for Sonam Wangchuk
The CJP's protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 26th day on Wednesday
New Delhi, July 16: On Thursday, the Delhi High Court mandated that authorities closely monitor the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, protesting against alleged discrepancies in the NEET examination process.
The bench, consisting of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, emphasized the importance of every citizen's life and instructed government medical personnel to conduct daily health assessments of Wangchuk, ensuring timely medical intervention if necessary.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and the Delhi government, acknowledged the significance of life and confirmed that there were no objections to regular health check-ups for Wangchuk.
The court remarked, "We recognize that every citizen's life is invaluable, and all medical efforts should be made by government authorities to preserve it." It further directed that Wangchuk's health be monitored consistently, with appropriate medical actions taken based on doctors' evaluations.
The Cockroach Janta Party has been protesting for over 25 days, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to alleged NEET examination irregularities. Wangchuk has been participating in the protest since June 28 and has been on a hunger strike since then.
During the proceedings, the court inquired whether there was a system in place to oversee Wangchuk's health and if regular medical reports were being maintained. Mehta responded that Wangchuk's health was assessed daily, contingent upon his consent for examinations by government doctors.
He added, "Whenever he has allowed a government doctor to examine him, we would have the reports. Occasionally, a private doctor also checks on him." However, the bench insisted on the necessity of monitoring by government doctors.
"We are not focused on private doctors. We want this individual to be regularly examined by government doctors, and any required medical intervention should be executed based on the findings. Life is precious," the court stated.
Petitioner Rakesh Kumar Saini argued that the authorities must ensure Wangchuk receives medical assistance if his health deteriorates.
In his public interest litigation (PIL), Saini requested that the authorities assist Wangchuk and engage in discussions with him. The petition also sought orders for the activist to be force-fed if necessary.
The PIL argued that the government's apparent indifference should not be tolerated, and the court should not allow a citizen to "voluntarily die of hunger." It further claimed that if Wangchuk were to perish, it would reflect poorly on the nation, emphasizing that the government has a duty to provide immediate medical care. The plea also highlighted that peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right, and the government's inaction could be seen as contributing to potential suicide.