Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of Sonam Wangchuk, on Sunday moved to Delhi High Court seeking urgent intervention over the climate activist’s continued stay at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, alleging that he is being kept there against his wishes following his removal from the Jantar Mantar protest site. In her plea, Angmo has requested permission to shift Wangchuk to a private hospital, claiming she has lost confidence in the treatment and transparency at the government-run facility.
Wangchuk, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 as part of a protest demanding educational reforms and action over the alleged NEET paper leak, was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after police removed him from Jantar Mantar on the 21st day of his fast.
According to Angmo, Wangchuk has continued his hunger strike even after being admitted to the hospital. She alleged that the family has not been given complete access to medical information and sought unrestricted access for his lawyers and doctors who had been treating him earlier.
In a public statement, Angmo described Wangchuk’s stay at the hospital as “illegal detention” and said she had moved the High Court seeking urgent relief. She also questioned the hospital’s public health bulletins, alleging discrepancies in the information shared regarding Wangchuk’s condition.
According to her, doctors had informed the family that Wangchuk’s potassium level had fallen to 2.9, which she described as a serious medical concern. However, she claimed that the hospital’s public update referred only to “decreasing potassium levels” without mentioning the exact figure. She further said that an independent laboratory test showed a potassium level of 3.5, which falls within the normal range.
Safdarjung Hospital has stated that Wangchuk remains stable but is showing signs of dehydration. The hospital also said that the activist had declined medical treatment. Angmo alleged that repeated requests to discharge Wangchuk or shift him to a private facility had not been accepted. She also claimed that movement around the hospital ward was heavily restricted, with a large deployment of police personnel in and around the floor where Wangchuk is admitted. “No family should have to fight the system simply to choose where their loved one receives medical care,” she said.
Wangchuk’s hunger strike began on June 28 as part of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s campaign seeking reforms in the education system and demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak. The protest has drawn support from activists, students and several public figures in recent weeks.
Who is Gitanjali Angmo?
Gitanjali Angmo is a social entrepreneur and educationist best known as the co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), which she established alongside activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk. She currently serves as the founding Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and dean of HIAL, an institution focused on promoting sustainable development and addressing the unique challenges faced by communities in the Himalayan region.