Delhi Police shifted climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital early Saturday, July 18, 2026, following a prolonged hunger strike [1].
The incident marks a critical escalation in the activist's protest, pitting the legal directives of the Delhi High Court against the personal autonomy and medical consent of the protester.
Wangchuk had been fasting at Jantar Mantar for 20 days [2], though some reports indicated he had entered day 21 of the strike [3]. A Delhi Police spokesperson said the activist was moved in compliance with Delhi High Court directions and on the advice of medical experts due to his deteriorating health [4].
His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, disputed the necessity of the police action. "Yesterday, he was doing fine. There was no need to bring him to the hospital," Angmo said. She further asserted that her opposition to the move is her right under Article 32 [5].
Angmo has issued a strict directive to the medical staff at Safdarjung Hospital regarding her husband's care. "I forbid them from administering anything without my consent. No treatment should start without my consent," she said. She added that she holds everyone accountable if anything happens [6].
The police action follows a period of intense monitoring of Wangchuk's health. While authorities cited medical urgency as the primary driver for the removal, the activist's family maintains that the intervention was premature and lacked proper authorization, a claim that highlights the tension between state duty of care and individual rights during political protests.
“"No treatment should start without my consent."”
The situation underscores a legal and ethical conflict regarding the state's power to intervene in the health of a political protester. By invoking Article 32 and demanding medical consent, Angmo is challenging the government's authority to prioritize life-saving medical intervention over an individual's right to conduct a hunger strike as a form of political expression.
