The Delhi High Court on Sunday declined a petition to transfer climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility [1].
The ruling maintains the current state of care for Wangchuk, whose health and legal status have become focal points for supporters and human rights advocates. The case highlights the tension between government medical oversight and the demands of activists' families regarding patient autonomy.
Dr. Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of Wangchuk, appeared before the court on July 19 [1]. She said to the media following the hearing that she had lost faith in the system [2]. Angmo said her husband is being illegally detained under the guise of medical treatment and expressed fear for his ongoing health [3].
During the proceedings, the court addressed the circumstances of Wangchuk's hospitalization. The court said doctors are closely monitoring him and his removal from Jantar Mantar was not arbitrary [1]. This contradicts the narrative presented by Angmo, who sought an urgent hearing to ensure her husband's safety in a different facility [3].
Angmo's appeal focused on the necessity of a private facility to ensure a higher standard of care, or more transparent monitoring. However, the court determined that the current medical supervision at the public hospital was sufficient. In a statement to the media, Angmo said, "If anything happens to him…" [3].
The activist was previously removed from Jantar Mantar, the site of his protests, and admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. The court's refusal to shift him means he will remain under the care of the state-run institution while legal challenges regarding his detention continue.
“"We have lost faith in the system."”
The court's decision to keep Sonam Wangchuk in a state-run hospital reinforces the government's position that his medical needs are being met and that his removal from public protest sites was lawful. By denying the transfer to a private facility, the judiciary has rejected the family's claim that the current hospitalization serves as a form of illegal detention, potentially limiting the legal avenues for his immediate release or change of venue.
