The Delhi High Court has scheduled an urgent hearing for Thursday to address a public interest litigation concerning the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently on an indefinite fast.
Court Issues Notices To Government
A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notices on Wednesday to the Union government, the Delhi government, and the additional solicitor general, directing them to clarify their stances on the matter.
The court was forced to defer Wednesday’s hearing because no government counsel or law officers were present to assist the bench. This absence was due to a strike called by the Delhi High Court Bar Association, which is boycotting court proceedings to protest a proposed expansion of the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts.
Protest Over Exam Irregularities
Wangchuk has been staging an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since June 28. He joined an ongoing demonstration organized by the Cockroach Janta Party, which has been protesting for more than 25 days to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
Petitioner Demands Medical Intervention
The public interest litigation was filed by Rakesh Kumar Saini, who represented himself virtually during Wednesday’s proceedings. Saini described the ongoing situation as deeply unfortunate and tragic, pointing out that a citizen is effectively risking his life in full view of the country.
The petition asks the court to direct authorities to step in, hold discussions with Wangchuk, and initiate a dialogue regarding the issues raised by the protest. Additionally, the filing requests immediate medical treatment, emergency care, nutritional support, and a directive to force-feed the activist to ensure his survival.
