Activist's Hospital Transfer Battle
Wangchuk's Wife Moves Delhi HC Over Alleged Illegal Detention, Seeks Private Hospital Transfer.
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Key Points
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Potassium levels reported in the family’s claims vs hospital bulletin: Wangchuk's wife said his potassium had fallen to 2.9, but the public bulletin reportedly omitted the exact figure; an independent lab test later indicated a potassium level of 3.5, described as within the normal range.
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How he was moved to Safdarjung Hospital: security personnel allegedly whisked him to Safdarjung Hospital, with reports of him being taken behind raised curtains by plainclothes officers; families say around 30 police were on his floor and more than 100 across the hospital, severely restricting movement.
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Urgent court action to switch him to a private facility: Angmo filed for an urgent Delhi High Court hearing to shift Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital to a private hospital, saying she has lost faith in the government facility.
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Protest permissions and police stance on the planned march: reports indicated that Delhi Police would not grant permission for the Sansad Chalo march to Parliament, a key component of Wangchuk’s broader campaign for education reform.
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Courts have engaged on health monitoring with potential intervention: the Delhi High Court had previously asked authorities to monitor Wangchuk’s health closely and intervene if needed, in response to a petition related to force-feeding as his health weakened.
Gitanjali Angmo, wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk, has asked the Delhi High Court to move her husband from Safdarjung Government Hospital to a private facility, calling his stay there "illegal detention." MarketScreener reported that Angmo says she has lost faith in the government hospital after security personnel allegedly moved Wangchuk there without family consent.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike to demand education accountability. He says he will end his fast if political leaders visit him and promise to make exam reform a focus of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, according to Metro Vaartha.
How Wangchuk Ended Up at Safdarjung Hospital
Angmo says plainclothes security officers moved Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital behind raised curtains, without the family's agreement. She claims around 30 police officers were stationed on his hospital floor alone, with more than 100 across the building. This heavy presence, she says, has severely restricted who can visit him or move freely.
The family describes the situation as confinement, not care. Angmo says authorities want to keep Wangchuk under government supervision against his will. The hospital, however, says he is stable and needs continuous monitoring because of changes in his blood levels caused by the ongoing fast, MarketScreener reported.
Conflicting Potassium Readings Fuel Family's Distrust
A dispute over Wangchuk's potassium levels has deepened the family's distrust of the hospital. Angmo said his potassium dropped to 2.9 — a level that can cause serious heart problems. But the hospital's public bulletin did not include that exact number. A later independent lab test put the reading at 3.5, which falls within the normal range.
The gap between the two readings is central to the legal fight. Angmo argues the hospital is not being transparent. The hospital says his vitals are stable but that his blood parameters are "marginally altered" due to the fast, and that he requires care that justifies keeping him there, according to Kansas.com.
Delhi High Court Steps In as Legal Battle Escalates
Angmo filed for an urgent Delhi High Court hearing to get Wangchuk transferred. The court had already been watching his case closely. It had previously asked authorities to monitor his health and step in if needed, after a petition was filed over concerns about force-feeding as his condition weakened, MarketScreener reported.
The family is pushing for a fast resolution. The urgency is tied to Wangchuk's planned Sansad Chalo march — a walk to Parliament as part of his campaign for education reform. Delhi Police have reportedly refused to grant permission for the march, adding another layer of tension to the standoff.
Wangchuk's Offer to End the Fast — With Conditions
Wangchuk has set a clear bar for ending his hunger strike. He wants political leaders to come to Safdarjung Hospital, meet him in person, and commit to raising exam reform and education accountability during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, according to Metro Vaartha.
News First Prime reported that Wangchuk's core demand is that Parliament take student grievances seriously. His campaign has drawn a growing circle of supporters, and the legal battle over his hospital stay has given it even more national attention. Whether political leaders respond to his conditions remains to be seen.
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