 has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking urgent directions to provide medical treatment){kind=link}
A PIL filed in the Delhi High Court seeks urgent medical intervention for activist Sonam Wangchuk
July 15, 2026: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking urgent directions to provide medical treatment, including force-feeding, to activist Sonam Wangchuk as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 18th day. Filed by activist-lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, the petition requests that Wangchuk be shifted immediately to a government hospital, claiming his health has deteriorated significantly. Organisers of the protest said the activist has lost nearly 8.5 kg since beginning his fast at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
The petitioner argued that Wangchuk’s life is at serious risk and urged the court to prioritise his safety over his decision to continue fasting. The plea stated that authorities should provide essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals through medical intervention, even if it is against his wishes. It further claimed that while peaceful protests are protected under the Constitution, the government also has a duty to safeguard the life and health of every citizen.
The petition also referred to provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, arguing that authorities cannot remain passive when a person’s life is in imminent danger. Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in NEET and other competitive examinations. Several opposition leaders and prominent public figures, including Arundhati Roy, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, and economist Jayati Ghosh, have appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast while expressing support for his demands.