The Delhi High Court refused to grant interim relief to shift climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility [1].
The ruling maintains the status quo for Wangchuk's medical treatment and rejects a petition seeking a change in venue during a period of legal and political tension. This decision underscores the court's current confidence in state-provided healthcare over the preferences of the patient's family.
Geetanjali Angmo, the wife of Wangchuk, filed the petition to move her husband to Medanta, a private hospital located in Gurgaon, Haryana [1]. In her filing, Angmo said that Wangchuk was under "illegal detention" and argued that he should be allowed to receive treatment at a private facility of their choice [2].
The court did not grant the request for the transfer and backed the continued use of government medical care at Safdarjung Hospital [1]. The ruling ensures that Wangchuk remains under the supervision of state health officials for the time being.
The legal proceedings regarding Wangchuk's medical care and detention status are ongoing. The court said the next hearing is scheduled for July 24 [2].
Wangchuk has been a prominent figure in climate activism, and his current hospitalization has drawn significant public attention. The refusal of the court to allow a transfer to a private facility follows the specific legal arguments presented by the government regarding the adequacy of the care provided at the public institution [1].
“The Delhi High Court refused to grant interim relief to shift Sonam Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility.”
The court's refusal to transfer Wangchuk to a private facility suggests a judicial preference for government oversight of the activist's health and security. By upholding the use of Safdarjung Hospital, the court is effectively rejecting the immediate validity of the 'illegal detention' claim as a basis for an emergency transfer, though the legal merits of that claim will likely be further debated at the next hearing.
