Delhi High Court Orders Medical Care For Sonam Wangchuk Amid Hunger Strike

The Delhi High Court has stepped in to manage the health of education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, who is 19 days into an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. A Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, ordered daily clinical monitoring to ensure the activist’s survival. Reports state Wangchuk has lost over 9 kilograms during his protest. Government doctors are currently overseeing his condition, and the court has emphasized the state’s duty to preserve the health of its citizens during public demonstrations.

Wangchuk is demanding constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, specifically statehood and ecological protections for the fragile mountain region. Beyond regional issues, his protest addresses the recent NEET paper leak controversy and calls for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement, which has gained visibility through support from groups like the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has remained in a state of deadlock despite the high-profile nature of the fast. Political figures have expressed concern over the health risks, while the administration has maintained a firm, bureaucratic stance regarding his specific political demands.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has formally urged Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, suggesting that the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament is the proper venue for such legislative concerns. Tharoor argues that the floor of the House is more effective for addressing constitutional and administrative protections than a street protest. Whether the government will engage in formal talks remains the critical question. While the High Court ensures his physical safety through medical scrutiny, the political future of Ladakh remains tethered to whether this struggle shifts from public agitation to official legislative dialogue.