Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk speaks in a video message from Medanta Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment during his indefinite hunger strike, in Gurugram. Photo: X/@Wangchuk66 via PTI Photo
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) against the forcible shifting of activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital on the 21st day of his hunger strike.
A bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that the issue of Mr. Wangchuk’s hospitalisation at Safdarjung Hospital was earlier raised by his wife before the high court and the matter was “disposed of to their satisfaction”.
“Since an FIR is sought to be lodged in relation to a reportedly solitary incident, it is always open for the petitioner to take recourse to 173 of BNSS,” the court said.
On July 18, the Delhi Police whisked Mr. Wangchuk away from the protest site at Jantar Mantar and forcibly shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital.
The petitioner sought a direction for registration of an FIR against all police personnel and other officials who have “committed cognizable offences while dispersing the peaceful protest held on July 18, 2026 at Jantar Mantar” as well as constitution of an SIT to ensure a fair, impartial and transparent investigation.
It also sought a direction for preservation of complete medical reports, opinions of the treating doctors and the decision-making process in relation to Mr. Wangchuk’s shifting from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital.
On Tuesday, the court ordered immediate shifting of Mr. Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital here to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, on a plea filed by his wife Gitanjali Angmo.
Published – July 23, 2026 02:00 am IST
