As Wangchuk’s health worsens, Delhi High Court orders regular monitoring

With activist Sonam Wangchuk’s health condition worsening on the 19th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi High Court ordered the Union and Delhi governments to ensure regular monitoring of his health.

Doctors warned on Thursday (July 16, 2026) that Mr. Wangchuk’s health condition had entered a critical stage. Satish Lamba, a doctor who has been examining Mr. Wangchuk regularly, said he has lost over 9 kg, but remains “mentally alert”. However, Dr. Lamba warned later in the evening that his body was likely consuming muscles and his organs may be next.

Mr. Wangchuk’s “blood sugar today is 80 mg/dl, and his pulse is 72 bpm,” Dr. Lamba said while delivering a medical bulletin in the afternoon. He said that doctors were maintaining “extra vigilance” and that at his current stage, Mr. Wangchuk’s uric acid levels were likely elevated as his muscles were likely being broken down by his body. He now weighs 56.9 kg.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court ordered that Mr. Wangchuk must be “regularly medically checked up by government doctors.” During the hearing, a Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia asked Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta whether any mechanism was in place to monitor Mr. Wangchuk’s health. Responding to the query, Mr. Mehta submitted that Mr. Wangchuk undergoes a daily health check-up.

“He [Mr. Mehta] further assures the court that depending upon the opinion of the doctors, whatever medical intervention is needed to check the deteriorating health condition of Mr. Wangchuk will also be taken,” the court recorded in its order.

The Bench passed the direction while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate and social activist Rakesh Kumar Saini seeking urgent intervention to safeguard Mr. Wangchuk’s health. Mr. Saini sought intervention “even if forcibly” to save Mr. Wangchuk’s life.

Mr. Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over issues concerning the country’s education system. On Thursday, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s protest site filled up substantially as more high-profile figures arrived at Jantar Mantar to register their support.

Three student supporters from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)’s student outfit, the All India Students’ Association (AISA), were also at a critical stage of their concurrent hunger strike, Sai Balaji, a former AISA president, said in a statement. 

“Aameen is at risk of a hypovolemic shock due to dehydration, Neha’s RBS levels hover around a dangerous 49 mg/dl and Manish has lost more than 10% of body mass,” Mr. Balaji said. Three other students had ended their strike in recent days, one of whom had been hospitalised and is recovering.

While there have been calls for Mr. Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, he remained resolute, saying calling off his fast without any response from the government would send a wrong message. Instead, he urged people to strengthen the CJP’s proposed Parliament march on July 20.

(With inputs from Soibam Rocky Singh )