Delhi HC says Sonam Wangchuk not in detention, refuses immediate transfer from govt hospital

The Delhi High Court on Sunday refused to order climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s immediate transfer from Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital, noting that the activist is not in detention.

Hearing a plea filed by Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo seeking his transfer to a private hospital, the high court directed doctors and the Centre to provide a status report on thr activist’s health within the next three days.

Advertisement

The court also stated that Wangchuk should cooperate with the doctors but didn’t issue any directive regarding it

“Sonam Wangchuk will cooperate with doctors, if he so chooses, I am not directing,” the court stated.

The high court posted the matter for further hearing on July 24.

Earlier during the hearing, the Centre rejected Gitanjali Angmo’s claim that she has not been given access to her husband, who was forcibly shifted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital from Jantar Mantar.

ASG Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Centre, told the Delhi High Court that Gitanjali has 24×7 access to the activist.

ASG Sharma said that Wangchuk could be shifted to AIIMS Delhi where President of India takes treatment too

“He should, like any other individual in this country, have complete faith in doctors (at the government hospital),” the ASG remarked.

He said that the intervention was needed as Wangchuk’s health kept deteriorating.

“Eighteen days of fasting in humid weather can dehydrate any normal person, and if you are on a fast, this weather can lead to ketosis syndrome. It may not show up in the parameters, but it can later lead to shock and hypokalemia. This has to be potassium-centric, but at the same time requires an overall assessment of the medical condition. We do not have one but two doctors. He is admitted to the emergency division,” the ASG told the high court.

Wangchuk was on Saturday removed from Jantar Mantar where he had been sitting on a hunger strike for 20 days in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest against paper leaks and student suicides.

The CJP has been demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the issue. However, after Saturday’s police crackdown, they have now also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

High Court notes Wangchuk not in detention

Hearing Wangchuk’s wife’s plea, the Delhi High Court, however, noted that the activist is not in detention and family members have been given access.

“Court has to see a larger picture. Mr Wangchuk is not in detention, but the wife, brother, and brother-in-law have been given access,” said the high court.

What doctors treating Wangchuk told HC

A doctor who was part of the team told the court that Wangchuk has been given some oral fluids but has refused to take IV fluids.

“We have been treating Wangchuk. He started some oral fluids, and in the evening, he started taking potassium chloride orally and some oral ORS without sugar. We have been trying to talk to him continuously for IV fluids but he has denied it,” the doctor said.

Giving updates about the activist’s health condition, the doctor said that Wangchuk needs to take vitamins since some of his parameters are borderline, with low sugar and potassium.

“He (Wangchuk) needs to have vitamins. Some of his parameters are borderline and some have been on the lower side, like potassium and sugar levels, which have been on the lower side of normal,” the doctor added.