The Delhi High Court has directed the Central government to ensure that activist Sonam Wangchuk undergoes a daily medical examination by government doctors. The court observed that every citizen's life is precious and instructed authorities to provide necessary medical intervention if his condition deteriorates. Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar for nearly 20 days, protesting alleged examination irregularities and demanding reforms.
According to Hindustan Times, a bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued the directions after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that Wangchuk's health would be monitored daily by government doctors and medical experts. The court emphasised that all possible medical efforts must be made to protect his life.
As reported by The News Minute, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed seeking urgent medical intervention, including hospitalisation and force-feeding of Wangchuk. The petition argued that the state has a constitutional duty to protect his life and cannot remain passive while his health deteriorates. It specifically requested that Wangchuk be shifted to a government hospital and provided with a liquid diet if necessary.
Medical updates indicate that Wangchuk has lost over 9 kg since the beginning of his fast, with his weight now at 57.15 kg. Doctors monitoring his condition said his vital parameters remain stable but warned that the coming days could be critical. Dr Satish Lamba, who is part of the medical team, stated that intravenous support would be a safer option than tube feeding if medical intervention becomes unavoidable.
"The simple thing to be done is to take him to a government hospital and force-feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals through a liquid diet that is essential for the human body to survive," the petition submitted to the court stated.
During the court proceedings on July 17, 2026, the bench also directed law officers representing both the Centre and the Delhi government to respond to the plea. The petition further alleged that Wangchuk's health had deteriorated significantly and claimed that the government had not engaged with the protesters for over 20 days.
Meanwhile, several celebrities have extended their support to Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike. On Thursday, actress Sonakshi Sinha shared a video on Instagram expressing her concern and said that, although she does not usually make such public statements, she could no longer remain silent.
In the video, Sonakshi said, "Aaj mujhse raha nahi jaa raha." She added that everyone knows who Sonam Wangchuk is, what he has done for the country, and his contributions.
"Woh 18 din se anshan pe baithe hai, bhuke hai, kuch khaaya nahi hai. Yeh kiske liye baithe hai? Yeh unn bachcho ke bhavishya ke liye baithe hai, jo unhe dikh raha ke barbaadi ki taraf jaa raha hai. Yeh unn bachcho ke liye lad rahe hai, jinhone unki jaan khodi. Yeh ek system ke khilaaf lad rahe hai, jo sahi tarike se nahi chal raha," she said.
The actress added that she also wants the betterment of the country and questioned why speaking up should make someone appear "anti-national."
Sonakshi also said she would not ask Wangchuk to end his fast. "When is it going to be enough? Jab yeh aadmi marke chale jayenge tab aap uthenge. Aur woh kiski responsibility hogi? Thik nahi ho raha, jo ho raha hai. I just wanted to say that," she added.
Actress Shweta Tiwari also extended her support to Sonam Wangchuk's cause while distancing herself from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), accusing the group of using his protest to push its own agenda.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Shweta wrote, "Sonam Wangchuk is fighting for a genuine cause, education and the future of our children. That cause deserves attention, and the government should listen to his concerns seriously."
However, she clarified that her support was solely for Wangchuk and not for any political organisation.
"At the same time, I have absolutely no inclination towards CJP. I disagree with the way they are handling this and feel they are using his struggle to push their own agenda. I don't support that approach," she wrote.
"My support is for Sonam Wangchuk and the cause he is fighting for, not for any political group or organisation trying to benefit from it. Whatever our political differences may be, we cannot afford to lose a man who has dedicated his life to the country and to education. The focus should remain on his message, his health, and finding a meaningful resolution," she added.
Sonam Wangchuk has entered the 19th day of his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. He is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
The issue of examination paper leaks gained nationwide attention following the NEET controversy, which involved allegations of question paper leaks, irregularities and unfair advantages in India's medical entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The controversy intensified after an unusually high number of top scorers and perfect marks raised concerns. Students across the country protested, demanding transparency, a re-examination and accountability, while the government defended the examination process and investigating agencies probed the alleged malpractice, raising serious concerns about public trust in the country's examination system.
