Wife of Hunger‑Striking Activist Sonam Wangchuk Challenges Delhi High Court Order

On Monday, Gitanjali J Angmo – the wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk – stepped into the Delhi High Court and filed an urgent appeal. She wants the court to set aside a single‑judge order handed down on Sunday that effectively locks her husband in Safdarjung Hospital.

According to Angmo’s petition, the order is illegal because it strips both her and Wangchuk of any say in his treatment. The judgment never mentions “informed consent” or the basic right to accept or reject a particular medical procedure – something the petitioner argues is a glaring omission.

Justice Mini Pushkarna, presiding over the special Sunday hearing, declined to intervene in the activist’s ongoing care. She noted that the government’s decision to move Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to a government‑run facility was not arbitrary, and that no immediate interim order for a private transfer was warranted.

The judge pointed out that Safdarjung doctors were “closely monitoring” Wangchuk’s condition and that there was no evidence of force being used against his bodily integrity. She also referred to a July 16 High Court order directing authorities to keep an eye on his health and step in medically if needed.

Wangchuk, who began his hunger strike on June 28, is protesting alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the recent deaths of several students linked to the cancellation of the NEET paper. After 21 days of fasting, Delhi Police forcibly admitted him to Safdarjung on Saturday.

Angmo’s appeal specifically asks the court to permit a shift to a private hospital of their choosing – a request that, as of now, remains pending.