The Delhi High Court ordered daily clinical health check-ups for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 19th day [1].
The court's intervention comes as Wangchuk's physical condition deteriorates, raising concerns that the protest could lead to a medical emergency. The order ensures that the activist receives necessary medical intervention while continuing his demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi [2].
Judges said that the "life of any citizen is precious" when issuing the directive for constant monitoring [3]. The court's move follows reports of a decline in the engineer's vital signs during the protest against examination irregularities [4].
Health officials said that Wangchuk's health is continuously deteriorating [5]. According to these officials, his blood pressure is very low and his sugar level has dropped to 60 [5].
The protest has drawn political attention and criticism. The Cockroach Janta Party said Dharmendra Pradhan is directly responsible if anything happens to the activist [6].
Wangchuk has remained at Jantar Mantar to draw attention to systemic issues in examinations. The court's mandate for daily monitoring is intended to balance the activist's right to protest with the state's obligation to preserve human life [3].
“Life of any citizen is precious”
The Delhi High Court's decision reflects a judicial effort to mitigate the risk of death or permanent injury during high-profile political fasts. By mandating medical oversight, the court places a legal safeguard around the activist's physical well-being without forcing an end to the protest, while simultaneously shifting a degree of accountability onto government officials for the activist's health outcomes.
