'Sonam Wangchuk may die': Delhi HC issues notice to Centre, govt on PIL seeking force-feeding of climate activist
PTC News Desk: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Centre and the Delhi government on a public interest litigation seeking urent medical intervention for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued a notice while calling the matter of utmost 'urgency'. The matter will likely be heard tomorrow.
The development follows a public interest litigation filed by lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini seeking urgent judicial intervention to provide medical aid to activist Sonam Wangchuk and end his 17-day hunger strike by force-feeding him.
Engineer and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, who inspired the character of Phunsukh Wangdu in Aamir Khan's film 3 Idiots, has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar as part of a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protest is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.
A petition filed in the matter said Wangchuk's health has deteriorated significantly and warned that if anything were to happen to him, it would bring "great shame for the country and the world."
The petition also explained that if a hunger striker's condition becomes critical, doctors can provide nutrition through a nasogastric (NG) tube. In this procedure, a thin tube is inserted through the nose into the stomach to deliver liquid nutrients. In some cases, intravenous (IV) fluids may also be given to provide basic nutrition.
According to Wangchuk's latest health update, he has lost around 8.5 kg since beginning his hunger strike on June 28, and his blood pressure has fallen to 109/70. His protest has received support from academics, opposition leaders and members of the film industry.
"The simple thing to be done is to take him to a hospital and force feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals by way of a liquid diet which are necessary for the human body to survive," the PIL mentioned.
- With inputs from agencies
