India court declines Wangchuk’s discharge

Indian authorities were right to move hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk to a government hospital because he had not admitted himself despite his deteriorating health, a court said yesterday, declining to order his immediate discharge.

The Delhi High Court (HC) said the government’s decision to move Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital against his wishes was not arbitrary. It ordered a status report to be filed before the next hearing scheduled for Friday.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

Wangchuk, 59, has been fasting since June 28 in solidarity with India’s Cockroach Janta Party, which was formed by Indian youths and is demanding federal Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan step down over exam paper leaks in May that affected millions of students.

The campaign has emerged as a rare public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and has drawn support across India.

Judge Mini Pushkarna said 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.”

Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, had sought permission to transfer him to the privately run Vedanta Hospital, alleging he was being held in “illegal detention”.