Gitanjali J. Angmo speaking to reporters after the Delhi High Court hearing on plea to shift Sonam Wangchuk to another hospital in the national capital, on July 19, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Soon after the Delhi High Court on Sunday (July 19, 2026) refused to interfere with activist Sonam Wangchuk’s treatment at Safdarjung Hospital, his wife Gitanjali Angmo said the petition was “wrongly interpreted” and questioned why the government, if it had to intervene, couldn’t do so “democratically with the family’s trust.
On Saturday (July 1, 2026), Mr. Wangchuk was taken forcibly to Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi Police on day 21 of his hunger strike.
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE updates – July 19, 2026
Ms. Angmo said that they would file another petition on the matter on Monday (July 20, 2026).
His wife asserted that Mr. Wangchuk should have free access to his doctors, adding that they went to the high vourt with the petition “that a free Indian citizen has the liberty to be treated where he wishes by doctors he’s comfortable with”. She said that a letter was submitted to the court prior to the hearing, but they are still awaiting a response.
“He [Mr. Wangchuk] should have free access. His doctors should meet him. So this is a larger question to answer, does a citizen not have the right to access care of his choice? And if the government intervenes, can’t they do so democratically with family’s trust?” Mr. Angmo asked.
Earlier in court, Justice Mini Pushkarna said no interim order was required at this stage on a petition by Ms.J Angmo, seeking permission to shift him to a private facility. The petition will be heard next on July 24.
“The high court has not allowed it because they said they’re worried about his health. We submitted that they can send their doctors wherever he’s being treated,” Ms. Angmo said, speaking to reporters after the hearing.
In a special hearing, Justice Pushkarna said Safdarjung doctors were closely monitoring the fasting activist, and it could not be said that any force was being used against him in violation of his bodily integrity. The judge also said the government’s removal of Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital cannot be called arbitrary.
Later, Ms. Angmo said that they wanted to shift Mr. Wangchuk to Medanta or any other hospital in the national capital. “This is fundamental right. We were exercising right of our comfort and choice. There’s a trust deficit in this country. People don’t trust government institutions.”
“Is India truly democratic and free? We asked the judge, the way police is roaming the floor and take all our belongings and his tablet… He’s not in detention like he was in the Jodhpur jail. He should have free access. His doctors should meet him,” she added.
Published – July 19, 2026 05:21 pm IST
