New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking urgent medical intervention for activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, whose indefinite hunger strike has entered its 17th day. The plea urges the court to ensure that doctors are allowed to take all necessary steps to save his life, including force feeding if his condition becomes life threatening.
The petition comes as concerns over Wangchuk’s health continue to mount. According to those associated with the protest, he has lost significant weight and is showing signs of severe physical weakness after more than two weeks without food. Medical experts monitoring hos condition have reportedly warned that a prolonged fast could lead to serious complications.
The High Court has taken note of the plea and sought responses from the concerned authorities. The matter is expected to be heard on priority, given the medical urgency highlighted in the petition.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite fast at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar since June 28, demanding greater accountability and transparency in India’s competitive examination system. His protest has drawn support from students, teachers, civil society organisations and several public figures, who say the issues he has raised deserve immediate attention.
Despite growing concern over his health, Wangchuk has refused to end the fast, maintaining that he will continue his protest until meaningful action is taken on his demands. His supporters say the hunger strike is aimed at pushing for systemic reforms rather than seeking personal attention.
The petition has also reignited a sensitive legal and ethical debate over whether authorities can intervene to save the life of a person voluntarily observing a hunger strike. While the right to protest is protected under the Constitution, courts have previously recognised that the state also has a responsibility to protect life when an individual’s health reaches a critical stage.
As the legal proceedings continue, doctors are closely monitoring Wangchuk’s condition while supporters remain gathered at the protest site, hoping that dialogue between the activist and the government can bring the standoff to an end before his health deteriorates further.
The High Court’s decision in the coming days could prove significant, not only for Wangchuk’s ongoing protest but also for the broader question of how the law balances the right to dissent with the duty to preserve life.
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