Lead

The Delhi High Court has rejected a petition from the wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk to release him from a New Delhi hospital, where he was taken by police after three weeks on hunger strike. The court endorsed the government's decision to hospitalize Wangchuk against his wishes and declined to order his immediate discharge, with another hearing scheduled for Friday.

Coverage Comparison

Al Jazeera reported that the court's decision came after Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, sought an urgent hearing, alleging that the hospitalization was 'illegal detention'. The outlet quoted Judge Mini Pushkarna as saying that doctors had administered only oral fluids and supplements with Wangchuk's consent, adding: "It cannot be said that any force is being used against Mr Sonam Wangchuk or that his bodily autonomy is being violated in any manner whatsoever."

Deutsche Welle reported that Angmo moved court to shift Wangchuk to another hospital, saying she had lost faith in the state-run Safdarjung Hospital. The outlet also noted that Wangchuk was forcibly shifted to the hospital by Delhi Police on the 21st day of his hunger strike, and that he called for 'India's second freedom movement' on Monday, urging people to attend a march to Parliament.

Key Claims

  • The Delhi High Court rejected a petition from Wangchuk's wife to release him from hospital, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Wangchuk's wife alleged the hospitalization was 'illegal detention', a claim carried by both Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle.
  • Wangchuk was forcibly shifted to a hospital by Delhi Police on the 21st day of his hunger strike, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • The hospital said Wangchuk's vitals were stable, although his blood parameters remained 'marginally altered' and he required sustained medical intervention and round-the-clock monitoring, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Wangchuk's wife alleged the hospital told the family his potassium level had fallen to a life-threatening 2.9 but did not disclose the figure in its public health bulletin; an independent test put the level at 3.5, which she described as normal, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • Wangchuk called for 'India's second freedom movement' on Monday, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • The CJP movement emerged in May after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant likened some unemployed young people to 'cockroaches', and its main demand is the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

Wangchuk's wife (Gitanjali Angmo)

Angmo has alleged that the hospitalization is 'illegal detention', stating that the hospital has refused to discharge her husband or allow him to be shifted to a private hospital of their choice. She has expressed a lack of faith in Safdarjung Hospital and warned that the hospital and the government would be responsible if anything happened to the activist.

Delhi High Court

The court, through Judge Mini Pushkarna, endorsed the government's decision to hospitalize Wangchuk, stating that no force is being used against him and that his bodily autonomy is not being violated. The court declined to order his immediate discharge, scheduling another hearing for Friday.

Hospital (Safdarjung Hospital)

The hospital has said that Wangchuk's vitals are stable, although his blood parameters remain 'marginally altered' and he requires sustained medical intervention and round-the-clock monitoring. The hospital has not publicly commented on the specific potassium level figures cited by Angmo.