Delhi High Court to hear plea seeking force feeding Sonam Wangchuk
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The Delhi High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea seeking urgent intervention in activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike, with the petitioner urging the court to direct authorities to provide him medical treatment and force-feed him.
The plea claimed that Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike since June 28, may not survive for more than two days if the fast continues. It said the 59-year-old activist has lost around 8.5 kg and alleged that the government was not taking adequate steps to protect his life.
A bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia deferred the hearing to Wednesday after noting that no one appeared on behalf of the Union government due to the Delhi High Court Bar Association's work abstention.
"Nobody is present on behalf of the Union of India. We are entertaining the petition. We will post the matter tomorrow itself and require them to seek instructions. We will ask the registry to file the order to the authorities today itself," the bench said.
Filed by advocate Rakesh Kumar Saini, the petition sought directions to shift Wangchuk to a government hospital and provide him essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals through a liquid diet.
The plea argued that holding a peaceful protest in a public place is a fundamental democratic right and said the state had shown insensitivity towards the activist.
It further stated that if Wangchuk lost his life during the protest, it would be "a matter of great shame for the country and the world," and alleged that the government's inaction could amount to abetment of suicide.
Wangchuk is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over irregularities in the NEET examination. He joined the indefinite hunger strike organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, which describes itself as a political front of the youth, by the youth and for the youth.