Delhi High Court Orders Regular Health Monitoring for Hunger-Striking Activist Sonam Wangchuk
With activist Sonam Wangchuk's health deteriorating on the 19th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Union and Delhi governments to ensure regular medical monitoring of his condition.
Doctors warned that Mr. Wangchuk's health had entered a critical stage. Dr. Satish Lamba, who has been examining him regularly, said Mr. Wangchuk has lost over 9 kg but remains mentally alert. Later in the evening, Dr. Lamba cautioned that the activist's body was likely consuming muscles and that his organs could be next.
According to a medical bulletin issued in the afternoon, Mr. Wangchuk's blood sugar was 80 mg/dl and his pulse was 72 bpm. Dr. Lamba stated that doctors were maintaining extra vigilance, and that at this stage, uric acid levels were likely elevated as muscles were being broken down. Mr. Wangchuk now weighs 56.9 kg.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court, presided over by a Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, ordered that Mr. Wangchuk must be regularly checked by government doctors. The court asked Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta whether a monitoring mechanism was in place. Mr. Mehta submitted that Mr. Wangchuk undergoes daily health check-ups.
“He [Mr. 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 court recorded in its order.
The direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate and social activist Rakesh Kumar Saini, seeking urgent intervention to safeguard Mr. Wangchuk's health, even if forcibly.
Mr. Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over issues concerning the country's education system. On Thursday, the protest site of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) saw increased attendance as more prominent figures arrived to express support.
Three student supporters from the All India Students' Association (AISA), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), are also on hunger strike and in critical condition, according to former AISA president Sai Balaji. He said one student is at risk of hypovolemic shock due to dehydration, another has dangerously low blood sugar levels, and a third has lost more than 10% of body mass. Three other students ended their strike in recent days, with one hospitalised and recovering.
Despite calls to end his fast, Mr. Wangchuk remains resolute, stating that calling off the strike without government response would send a wrong message. He urged people to strengthen the CJP's proposed Parliament march on July 20.
