New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The family of activist Sonam Wangchuk has moved the Delhi High Court, alleging that he is being prevented from leaving Safdarjung Hospital despite repeated requests and questioning the medical assessment provided by the hospital. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, has sought urgent judicial intervention to allow his transfer to a private healthcare facility.
In a public statement, Angmo said the family had lost confidence in the treatment being provided at the government hospital. She alleged that doctors had informed them that Wangchuk’s potassium level had dropped to 2.9, calling it a critical condition that required immediate medical attention.
However, she claimed that the hospital’s official health update did not mention the specific reading and instead referred only to declining potassium levels. According to Angmo, an independent blood test conducted after persistent requests showed a potassium level of 3.5, which she described as being within the normal range.
She further alleged that the family was made to wait several hours before being allowed to collect a blood sample for independent testing. The difference between the hospital’s assessment and the external laboratory report, she said, has raised serious concerns.
Angmo also accused the authorities of refusing to discharge Wangchuk or permit his transfer to a private hospital chosen by the family. She claimed that strict security arrangements inside the hospital have severely limited their movement, alleging that dozens of police personnel have been deployed on the ward where Wangchuk is admitted, with a much larger security presence elsewhere in the hospital.
Describing the situation as “illegal detention” rather than medical care, Angmo said she had approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing. Her petition requests permission to shift Wangchuk to another hospital before his condition worsens.
She also warned that if any adverse development occurred in Wangchuk’s health, responsibility should rest with both the hospital administration and the government.
Wangchuk was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital after being removed from his protest site, where he had been observing an indefinite hunger strike over issues linked to the NEET examination controversy. While hospital authorities have maintained that prolonged fasting necessitates continuous medical supervision, they have not yet issued a response to the allegations made by Wangchuk’s wife or commented on the petition filed before the High Court.
