On the 19th day of Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar, the Delhi High Court has ordered the Centre to provide any medical intervention that is required and to ensure daily medical monitoring.
The order comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on Wednesday before the Delhi High Court. The plea mentioned that the 59-year-old activist might not survive the next 48 hours if he does not discontinue his fast. It added that the government was “least concerned and insensitive” about the situation. It urged the government to induce force-feeding and provide him with the vital nutrients required to survive.
"The simple thing to be done is to take him to a government 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," it said.
The plea also said that any method of peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right of a citizen and that it would be a matter of shame for the country if the activist died.
Highlighting the Centre’s submission, which noted that Wangchuk’s health is being constantly monitored, a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed that this process continues, and that necessary treatment be provided when required.
“We would like this person to receive regular and daily medical checks from government doctors and intervention depending on those reports. And if any medication is required, please intervene. The life of any citizen is precious, and all efforts ought to be made by government authorities to save the same,” the Court said.
Sonam Wangchuk has been on hunger strike since June 28, protesting in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party, which has been demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET 2026 paper leak. He refuses to end his fast, despite his health having worsened over this span of time.
