A plea before the Delhi High Court seeks to force-feed activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an 18-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, in protest against alleged irregularities in the NEET 2026 exam and other examinations, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for affected students. The petition, filed by lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, expresses concern over Wangchuk's deteriorating health, having already lost 8.5 kilograms and experiencing dangerously low blood pressure, warning that his death would bring shame to India and alleging the government is mistreating him. Wangchuk, famously the inspiration for the character Phunsukh Wangdu in the film "3 Idiots," has stated he will not end his fast until the government addresses the exam issues, while opposition leaders and celebrities have urged him to break his fast, suggesting parliamentary action is a more appropriate avenue.

A plea before the Delhi High Court seeks to force-feed activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an 18-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, in protest against alleged irregularities in the NEET 2026 exam and other examinations, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for affected students. The petition, filed by lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, expresses concern over Wangchuk's deteriorating health, having already lost 8.5 kilograms and experiencing dangerously low blood pressure, warning that his death would bring shame to India and alleging the government is mistreating him. Wangchuk, famously the inspiration for the character Phunsukh Wangdu in the film "3 Idiots," has stated he will not end his fast until the government addresses the exam issues, while opposition leaders and celebrities have urged him to break his fast, suggesting parliamentary action is a more appropriate avenue.

A plea before the Delhi High Court seeks to force-feed activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an 18-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, in protest against alleged irregularities in the NEET 2026 exam and other examinations, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for affected students. The petition, filed by lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, expresses concern over Wangchuk's deteriorating health, having already lost 8.5 kilograms and experiencing dangerously low blood pressure, warning that his death would bring shame to India and alleging the government is mistreating him. Wangchuk, famously the inspiration for the character Phunsukh Wangdu in the film "3 Idiots," has stated he will not end his fast until the government addresses the exam issues, while opposition leaders and celebrities have urged him to break his fast, suggesting parliamentary action is a more appropriate avenue.

The Delhi High Court has said that it will hear the Public Interest Litigation filed seeking urgent medical intervention for activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday. 

A PIL submitted before the Delhi High Court had sought to force-feed Wangchuck as he entered day 18 of his indefinite hunger strike. The activist and the Coackroach Janta Party are continuing their protest demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged irregularities in the NEET 20206 exam and other exams.

A bench comprised of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia has sought the Central and Delhi government's stand by tomorrow, Live Law reported. "Having regard to urgency, list tomorrow," the bench said. The Court, however, adjourned the matter till tomorrow, citing the absence of counsel for the Union of India.

The petition was filed by activist and lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, who expressed concern that if Wangchuk continues with his hunger strike, he could end up losing his life in two days.

"The simple thing to be done is to take him to a hospital and force feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals by way of a liquid diet, which are necessary for the human body to survive," the PIL read.

It also adds that the activist's death could bring great shame upon India globally.

Sonam Wangchuk is also the man who inspired the popular character Phunsukh Wangdu in 3 Idiots starring Amir Khan.

Wangchuk joined the demonstrations by the CJP on June 28 and began an indefinite hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to support the group.

The petitioner also alleged that the government is treating Wangchuk like a dangerous criminal or traitor to the country. He asserted that the government is not concerned about the environmental activist.

Reports said that Wangchuk had already lost about 8.5 kilograms during the fast. His blood pressure has plummeted to a worrying 109/70 reading.

According to a post by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, when asked to end the hunger strike, Sonam Wangchuk replied: “Instead of asking me to end my hunger strike, ask the government why it refuses to listen.” Dipke has been posting regular updates on Wangchuk's health on his X account. 

The CJP has been demeaning the education minister’s resignation and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of the students who died by suicide after the alleged exam irregularities.

Leaders from several opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party and the Samajwadi Party, and celebrities have all requested Wangchuk to end his fast and backed him in the protest.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also appealed that the activist end his fast in an open letter addressed to protestors at the Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. "Please end your fast. You have awakened the conscience of the nation; that is what a fast is meant to do. India needs your voice for the long road ahead," he said

"We will have an opportunity to raise the students' issues in the highest forum of our democracy. That's where the problem should be addressed, not by fasting unto death," he added.

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