Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Agmo, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking his immediate transfer from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility, alleging a lack of confidence in the treatment being provided. She has also challenged his continued stay at the government hospital, calling it unconstitutional.
Wangchuk, who has been observing an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar for the past 21 days over alleged irregularities in national examinations, was taken to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday morning. Police maintained that the move was made to monitor his health in compliance with court directions. However, opposition parties criticised the action, claiming force was used against a peaceful protest. The BJP defended the decision, saying it was necessary to safeguard Wangchuk’s health.
Wife seeks urgent hearing, challenges police action
According to multiple reports, Agmo has requested an urgent hearing before the Delhi High Court on Sunday.
I have lost faith in Safdarjung Government Hospital.
— Gitanjali J Angmo (@GitanjaliAngmo) July 19, 2026
The hospital told us @Wangchuk66’s potassium had dropped to 2.9, describing it as alarming and life-threatening. Yet, in its public health bulletin, it conveniently omitted the actual number, referring only to "decreasing…
The petition, filed through advocate Bahuli Sharma, argues that Wangchuk’s removal from the protest site was neither medically required nor legally justified. It states that his vital parameters were stable and he was already under continuous supervision by qualified healthcare professionals when police intervened.
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The plea further claims that there was no medical emergency warranting such action and that his forcible removal amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
Petition raises questions over potassium test results
Agmo has also questioned the medical findings presented by Safdarjung Hospital.
According to the petition, she was informed that Wangchuk’s potassium level had dropped to 2.9 mg on the morning of July 18, requiring urgent medical intervention. However, she alleged that hospital authorities refused to provide a copy of the report despite showing it to her.
The petition states, “When the Petitioner reached the hospital- she was informed by the doctors of the Respondent hospital that Shri Sonam Wangchuk’s potassium levels had dropped to 2.9 mg as on the morning of 18.07.2026 which warranted the urgent medical intervention. While the report was shown to the Petitioner- no copies of the report were provided to the Petitioner. The Petitioner demanded copies of the report, and informed the Respondent authorities that blood work from the previous day i.e. 17.07.2026 had recorded Shri Sonam Wangchuk’s potassium levels as 4.3 mg at 4:17 PM. Alarmed by the sudden discrepancy in levels- the Petitioner, at 12:00PM, requested the hospital for a blood sample of Shri Sonam Wangchuk to conduct a re-test from a different hospital.”
It further adds, “The Respondents furnished the blood sample to the Petitioner at 10:30 PM- after an unexplained delay of nearly 10.5 hours. As apprehended by the Petitioner, results of the tests conducted on these samples indicate a potassium level of 3.6 mg, much higher than the earlier disclosed level of 2.9 mg. This clearly reveals a significant discrepancy in test results provided by the Respondents as compared to the tests conducted by an independent agency at the behest of the Petitioner. The mala fide conduct of the Respondents is thus evident from the results.”
Family alleges denial of access
The petition also says Agmo was not informed by Delhi Police before Wangchuk was taken from the protest site, despite his request that she be notified. She claims she learned about the development through a volunteer present at Jantar Mantar.
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The plea further alleges that authorities denied Wangchuk access to his legal counsel and doctors who had been monitoring his condition during the hunger strike. It also states that requests to discharge him and shift him to a hospital chosen by his family were repeatedly rejected.
The writ petition that was filed at 4 am seeking discharge of @Wangchuk66 from Safdarjung to a hospital of our choice this morning has been has been granted an emergency hearing by the #Delhihighcourt. The case has been listed at 2.30 pm before Justice Mini Pushkarna! We have…
— Gitanjali J Angmo (@GitanjaliAngmo) July 19, 2026
The petition states, “Further, the Petitioner was arbitrarily denied permission to take her phone or any device while meeting her husband. Further, it is submitted that despite these repeated requests, the Respondents have disclosed only selective information and refused the family’s request to shift him to another hospital, thereby preventing any independent verification of his medical condition.”
Calling the circumstances surrounding the medical intervention “clandestine and opaque”, the petition contends that Wangchuk’s admission without any lawful order of arrest or detention, along with restricted access to his lawyers and independent doctors, amounts to an arbitrary infringement of his fundamental rights.
FAQs:
Why did Sonam Wangchuk’s wife move the Delhi High Court?
She sought his transfer to a private hospital, alleging a lack of trust in the treatment and challenging his continued confinement at Safdarjung Hospital.
Why is Sonam Wangchuk admitted to Safdarjung Hospital?
Delhi Police shifted him from his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar for medical monitoring, saying the move was made in line with court directions.
