The Delhi High Court has directed the Central government to ensure that activist Sonam Wangchuk undergoes daily medical examinations by government doctors and receives necessary medical intervention should his condition deteriorate.
The order follows a petition seeking to have Wangchuk shifted to a government hospital and force-fed to prevent his death. The court, in a bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, observed that the life of every citizen is precious and authorities must make every possible medical effort to protect it.
Health Concerns and Medical Assessment
Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for nearly 20 days. According to BBC News, Wangchuk has lost 9.1kg during the 19 days of his fast.
Dr. Satish Lamba, who examined Wangchuk’s health parameters on Thursday, stated that the activist has lost fat and is now losing muscle mass. Dr. Lamba warned that the next stage would be the potential affection of organs, which would be “very worrying.”
The physical toll of the strike was highlighted in a viral video from Wednesday, which showed Wangchuk being assisted by others while walking, before clutching his leg in pain and needing to sit in a chair.
Demands of the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’
Wangchuk is protesting as part of the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP), a movement demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The demands stem from alleged irregularities and paper leak allegations linked to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) conducted on May 3.
The CJP was launched on May 16 by Boston University graduate Abhijeet Dipke as a satirical reactionary outfit following a remark by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. It has since evolved into a youth movement. The sit-in at Jantar Mantar began on June 28, eight days after the CJP announced they would remain until the Education Minister steps down.
Public and Celebrity Support
The protest has garnered significant support from civil society, academics, and the arts. Actor Atul Kulkarni announced a one-day hunger strike on July 16 from his home to connect with the pain of Wangchuk and his associates and to urge the government to begin a dialogue without delay.
Other celebrities who have shown support include:
- Shabana Azmi
- Abhay Deol
- Zeenat Aman
- Anurag Kashyap
- Omi Vaidya
Additionally, a letter issued on Tuesday by over 1,800 members of civil society and activists—including Arundhati Roy, Naseeruddin Shah, Jean Drèze, and Nivedita Menon—urged Wangchuk to end his fast. The People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) also appealed for him to call off the protest while expressing solidarity with the CJP.
Government Response and Future Actions
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, assured the Delhi High Court that Wangchuk’s health would be monitored daily by medical experts and that any necessary intervention would be undertaken promptly based on assessments of his condition.
Despite the appeals to break his fast, Wangchuk told the BBC on Tuesday, “I have to take what I’ve begun to its logical conclusion.”
The protest remains active at Jantar Mantar, with several others, including members of student organizations, also on hunger strike. Protesters have announced plans to march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the start of the next session.
Find more reporting in our Entertainment section.
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