Court Rejects Hospital Transfer as Sonam Wangchuk Demands Fast Terms

Activist Sonam Wangchuk remains under medical supervision at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi after being forcibly removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site by police on July 18. Wangchuk had been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 to protest NEET-UG paper leaks and demand education reforms, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Hospital officials cited dangerously low potassium, sodium, and sugar levels as the reason for his admission.

The Delhi High Court twice refused to grant interim relief to Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, who petitioned to transfer him to a private facility, alleging the hospitalization was an "illegal detention." Justice Mini Pushkarna ruled the government's actions were not arbitrary given his perilous health. On July 20, Wangchuk requested a temporary release to join the "Sansad Chalo" march to Parliament, claiming his health parameters had normalized, but Safdarjung Hospital denied the request, stating his condition still warrants close clinical observation.

Wangchuk later outlined three conditions to end his fast: government accountability for education failures, assurances that these issues will be addressed in Parliament, and a visit from top political leaders. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party organized a march on July 20 that drew approximately 8,000 protesters. Delhi Police used lathi-charges to disperse the crowd, citing prohibitory orders during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. In response to the crackdown, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke launched his own indefinite hunger strike.