New Delhi:
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has agreed to end his three-week hunger strike if two of his conditions are met, his wife Gitanjali Angmo said on Sunday, hours after the Delhi High Court rejected permission to transfer him from the government-run Safdarjang Hospital to a private facility.
Wangchuk, who has been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the recent leak of NEET questions, will end his hunger strike on Monday if political leaders meet him and assure him that the issue of accountability in education will be raised in Parliament during the monsoon session that begins tomorrow, she said.
On Saturday morning, Delhi Police forcibly removed Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar in Delhi and shifted him to a hospital.
A bench headed by Justice Mini Pushkarna this afternoon ruled that the government has every right to transfer him as he was not admitted to the hospital despite his deteriorating health.
“No interim orders are required at this stage,” she said.
Also read: Sonam Wangchuck to remain in public hospital, court denies temporary relief
Angmo has vowed to challenge the order before a two-judge bench, senior advocate Vivek Tankha told NDTV.
“Since the hospital doctors are closely monitoring him and giving him oral medications 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 the government’s decision to remove him cannot prima facie be said to be arbitrary and does not infringe upon his personal liberty.
Angmo wanted to transfer him to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, alleging that Wangchuk was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital without his or his family’s consent. Her statement also alleged that he was being held against his will.
The central government told the court that his health had deteriorated due to prolonged fasting and deteriorating health indicators.
Referring to the division bench order dated July 16, which directed the authorities to monitor his health and intervene if necessary, the high court noted that the government shifted him to the hospital in accordance with these directions.
Earlier today, Wangchuck posted a message from the hospital calling on supporters to take part in a proposed July 20 march organized by the Tarakan Janta Party.
Also read: Sonam Wangchuck removed from protest site and taken to hospital on day 21 of hunger strike
Sonam Wangchuk Health Update
According to the hospital, Sonam Wangchuk’s vital parameters are stable. His blood counts have improved slightly, but require constant monitoring.
Due to the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting, he requires continuous medical care under the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of specialists.
He also requires ongoing medical intervention and 24-hour clinical monitoring is still required.