Delhi High Court Says Sonam Wangchuk’s Transfer to Chosen Hospital Will Protect Fundamental Rights

In a significant development in the legal battle over activist Sonam Wangchuk’s health and detention, the Delhi High Court has given an important order on his medical treatment. A division bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed that Wangchuk be shifted immediately from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, saying that ensuring his treatment in a hospital of his choice directly fulfils the protection of his fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

Evaluating Medical Consensus and Patients’ Rights

The move follows an appeal by Wangchuk's wife Dr Gitanjali Angmo against an earlier rejection of a plea to shift him to a private healthcare facility. In the post-lunch session, the bench went through the detailed medical reports, blood and urine analysis reports from private laboratories and affidavits of doctors from Safdarjung Hospital. The judges also had direct interaction with medical experts, including the in-charge director of AIIMS, a professor of emergency medicine and Wangchuk’s personal consulting physician.

The bench said it was important to give the patient a choice of hospital and noted that experts were unanimous on the need for continuous medical monitoring in view of the disturbing levels of total leukocyte count and potassium in his blood. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the respondents had no objection to the move, and the court asked the Director of Medanta Hospital to constitute a specialised medical team to manage his ongoing recovery from the prolonged hunger strike. The bench also ordered that Dr Angmo be allowed free access to meet her husband whenever she wants, balancing strict clinical protocols with personal support.

Context: Detention and Broader Protests

Delhi Police had earlier arrested Wangchuk on July 18 from Jantar Mantar, where he was on a hunger strike in solidarity with student groups and the Cockroach Janta Party, who were protesting against alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks. His vitals were fluctuating, and he was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on Sunday after directions for daily clinical observation from the courts earlier. The capital is still reeling from the political tremors over the handling of student agitations and demonstrations, but the High Court made it clear that its priority is strictly to save Wangchuk's life.