Why Was Sonam Wangchuk Hospitalised? Centre Tells Delhi HC His Potassium Levels Were Low

Published 19 July 2026 · local

Why Was Sonam Wangchuk Hospitalised? Centre Tells Delhi HC His Potassium Levels Were Low Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 15:44 IST The Central

Why Was Sonam Wangchuk Hospitalised? Centre Tells Delhi HC His Potassium Levels Were Low Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 15:44 IST The Central Government on Sunday argued before the Delhi High Court that activist Sonam Wangchuk's health had been deteriorating due to prolonged fasting Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his wife, Gitanjali J Angmo | File image credit: ANI The Central Government on Sunday argued before the Delhi High Court that activist Sonam Wangchuk’s health had been deteriorating due to prolonged fasting, seeking to justify his hospitalisation. The remarks were made during a special hearing in the Court on his wife’s request to shift him from Safdarjung Hospital to a private facility. Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, moved the Delhi HC and sought an urgent hearing to shift the activist from the Safdarjung Government Hospital to a private facility. A single-Judge Bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna was hearing the petition. The Bench asked Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Centre, whether there were “compelling circumstances" under which Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital, Bar and Bench reported. “There was a deteriorating condition. On 18 days of fasting in humid weather which can dehydrate any normal person, this leads to ketosis", ASG Sharma told the Court. He highlighted the consequences of prolonged fasting, saying: “The fasting can cause a serious medical condition to Wangchuk due to low potassium. His kidney functioning may get impaired." “President of India takes treatment in AIIMS govt hospital", he noted, arguing that Angmo was granted access to her husband in the hospital. “We are not stopping and we wont. We do not rely on private records. We will rely upon AIIMS.

I am prepared to go to this extent that…Safdarjung is top-notch. Assuming that my friend still has [issues], he can be shifted to AIIMS", Sharma argued, Bar and Bench reported. ‘Is A Citizen Of India…? Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned before the Court the order passed in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in connection with Wangchuk’s hunger strike. Seeking permission for the activist’s treatment at a private facility, he said: “The problem at Safdarjung is that there is no access to his doctors and lawyers; we have no idea. We decided that he should be discharged. We want doctors and a hospital of our choice", according to Bar and Bench. Sibal told the High Court that his client, Gitanjali J Angmo, had already spoken to Medanta, a private multi-speciality hospital, as he sought his discharge from Safdarjung. “We have talked to Medanta. We seek his discharge so that we can go to Medanta. They’re going to send an ambulance, and we’ll go there and take our treatment there. That’s our limited prayer", he told the Bench. While highlighting that there is no case against Wangchuk, Sibal asked: Is a citizen of India not entitled to say that I want to go to a hospital of my choice for my health?" A Quick Recap In her petition, Gitanjali J Angmo stated that there was no medical emergency warranting abrupt “coercive intervention", as his vital parameters were stable and that he was under continuous medical supervision at Jantar Mantar, according to the Bar and Bench. She claimed that despite repeated requests, the hospital authorities had disclosed selective information and declined the family’s request to shift Wangchuk to another facility.