New Delhi:
Activist Sonam Wangchuk will remain in the government-run Safdarjung hospital as the Delhi High Court refused an interim relief on a request by his wife to shift him to a private facility.
Wangchuk had been hospitalised by the police yesterday after three weeks of hunger strike in a hot and humid Delhi over the alleged NEET paper leak and reforms in the education system.
This was not an arbitrary action, a bench led by Justice Mini Pushkarna ruled this afternoon, noting that the government was well within its rights to shift him since he did not admit himself to hospital despite his failing health.
“No interim orders are required to be passed at this stage,” she stated.
Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo will challenge the order before a double-judge bench and seek an urgent hearing tomorrow, senior advocate Vivek Tankha told NDTV.
During today’s hearing, a doctor submitted that Wangchuk was administered oral medicine without sugar with his consent. “Since doctors of the hospital are closely monitoring him and gave him oral medicine with his consent, it cannot be said that force is being used or his autonomy is being violated,” Justice Pushkarna said.
The court also noted that unlimited access had been given to Angmo and Wangchuk’s other family members.
The urgent hearing was convened on a request by Angmo early this morning, with her alleging that she had lost trust in the hospital over a lack of transparency.
Representing Angmo, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said she wanted him to be shifted to Medanta hospital. “Whatever is to be done will have to be done by a doctor of my choice. It is my body, and I decide where I go,” he told the court.
The government, represented by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, submitted that there will be huge consequences if anything happens to Wangchuk. On his wife seeking to shift him to a private hospital, Sharma pointed out that even the President avails treatment at a government hospital.
Sources in the government had earlier flagged a health risk to Wangchuk if he was shifted out of Safdarjung.
The centre also requested the court to pass an order to let them take whatever action needed to save Wangchuk’s life. The bench said the medical team treating him will take the ultimate decision.
The court has also directed a status report to be filed in three days. The next hearing has been fixed on July 24.
Wangchuk had been on hunger strike since June 28, as part of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s protest against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.
His wife will lead a march to Parliament tomorrow to raise their demands.
