Delhi High Court Permits Sonam Wangchuk to Transfer to Medanta Hospital

Legal Dispute Over Medical Autonomy

The transition of Sonam Wangchuk to a private facility marks a resolution to a tense legal battle concerning the rights of a competent adult to choose their medical treatment. On July 18, 2026, Delhi Police moved Wangchuk from the protest site at Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital, citing concerns over his deteriorating health following his participation in the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement. The movement demands accountability for alleged examination paper leaks and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Following his hospitalization, Wangchuk’s wife, Dr. Gitanjali J. Angmo, filed an appeal with the Delhi High Court, arguing that her husband was being held in illegal detention and that the family had lost confidence in the treatment provided at the government facility due to a perceived lack of transparency. The Central Government ultimately offered no opposition to the transfer, leading a division bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya to approve the move to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.

Conflicting Reports on Medical Condition

A central point of contention during the court proceedings involved the medical data released by Safdarjung Hospital. Dr. Angmo’s legal team challenged the accuracy of the hospital’s reports, specifically regarding potassium levels. While the hospital reportedly stated that Wangchuk’s potassium levels had dropped to 2.9—a figure described as dangerously low—the family’s independent testing suggested levels between 3.5 and 3.76, which fall within the normal range.

The family expressed concern that the lack of transparent communication regarding these metrics was indicative of broader issues within the medical oversight provided by the state. The legal appeal emphasized that a competent adult has the constitutional right to choose or refuse medical treatment and cannot be confined against their wishes.

High Court Intervention and Final Decision

The path to the transfer was not immediate. On July 19, 2026, Justice Mini Pushkarna had initially declined to grant interim relief, noting that the government’s decision to move Wangchuk from the protest site was not arbitrary and that medical protocols should dictate his care. This single-judge order was subsequently challenged by Dr. Angmo before a Division Bench.

On Monday, July 20, 2026, the Division Bench, comprised of Chief Justice Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, took up the appeal. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, representing Dr. Angmo, successfully argued for an urgent review of the case. According to thestatesman.com, the court also directed that doctors from both Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS assist in the decision-making process before finalizing the transfer request.

The court’s ultimate directive to allow the shift to Medanta Hospital concludes a period of uncertainty for the activist’s family, who had argued that his continued stay in the government facility violated his personal liberty, bodily autonomy and right to protest as protected under Article 21 of the Constitution.