Delhi High Court Allows Sonam Wangchuk’s Transfer To Medanta Hospital

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday allowed activist Sonam Wangchuk to shift from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital after medical experts agreed he required constant monitoring.

The court directed Safdarjung Hospital to share all medical records with Medanta and asked the private hospital to form a panel of doctors to oversee his treatment.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the Centre had no objection to the transfer but urged the court to allow Wangchuk’s discharge only with the treating doctors’ approval.

Mehta also expressed concern over Wangchuk’s declining Total Leukocyte Count (TLC), stating that the low level could increase the risk of infection, shock and multiple organ failure. He maintained that the government’s primary concern was Wangchuk’s health.

Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, representing Wangchuk, argued that his client did not face an immediate threat to life and referred to medical reports prepared by doctors who had monitored him over several years. He also cited a letter written by Wangchuk alleging police presence, restrictions on phone access and surveillance during his stay at Safdarjung Hospital.

The case arose from an appeal filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Dr Gitanjali J Angmo, challenging an earlier order of a single judge refusing to direct his transfer to a private hospital.

On Monday, the High Court had sought complete medical records from Safdarjung Hospital, AIIMS and private laboratories before hearing the matter.

Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of students protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He was shifted from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital after his health deteriorated.

Also Read: Supreme Court Warns Parsvnath Developers Of Imprisonment Over Gurugram Flats