New Delhi: Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital early Saturday after his health deteriorated on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. Doctors said he is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration, though his condition remains stable.
Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital at 7.40 am on the directions of the Delhi High Court and on expert medical advice, according to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi). Police said the move followed the court’s orders and that officers exercised restraint after protesters at the site briefly tried to obstruct the operation.
Why Wangchuk Was on Hunger Strike
Sonam Wangchuk began his indefinite fast on June 28 in support of the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement that emerged after the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The CJP has demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA), sweeping reforms to competitive examinations, and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students the movement says died by suicide following the NEET controversy.
Before starting the fast, Wangchuk and CJP founder Abhijit Dipke had visited Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, with Wangchuk describing himself as a follower of Gandhian non-violent resistance.
Health Decline and Refusal of Treatment
A hospital statement said Sonam Wangchuk “is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration. Although he is currently stable, he requires continuous observation, monitoring and treatment to restore his body parameters.”
According to hospital sources, Wangchuk has lost nearly 9.5 kg since the start of his fast, with his blood pressure and blood sugar levels under close monitoring. Doctors also found dehydration, low potassium and rising ketone levels, which they said could pose a risk to kidney function if they continued to rise alongside dehydration.
Despite this, Wangchuk has refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and other recommended medications. Medical staff have been counselling him on the health risks of continuing without treatment, but he has remained firm in declining intervention. On Friday night, before his hospitalisation, Wangchuk reportedly said he remained determined to continue the fast despite his worsening condition.
Wife Seeks Consent Before Any Treatment
Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, said no medical treatment should be administered to her husband without her consent. In a post on social media, she said nothing should be given to him orally or intravenously without consent from her, his family, and the doctors who had been monitoring his health over the preceding weeks.
She also sent two letters to the Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital directing that no oral or intravenous medicine or fluid be administered without her consent, and sought copies of all medical reports. In a separate communication, she requested his discharge so he could be moved to a facility of the family’s choice, citing a lack of transparency and loss of confidence in the hospital. She maintained that Wangchuk had been “absolutely fine” and questioned the decision to hospitalise him.
Delhi High Court’s Role
The Delhi High Court had earlier directed authorities to conduct daily clinical health assessments of Wangchuk amid concerns over his deteriorating condition during the fast. The hospitalisation came ahead of a scheduled hearing in the High Court on his health.
Protest Continues at Jantar Mantar
Shortly after Wangchuk was shifted to hospital, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke announced that he was beginning his own indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, signalling that the protest movement would continue despite Wangchuk’s hospitalisation.
Doctors have reiterated that Wangchuk remains under close medical observation, with his vital parameters being tracked round the clock, as authorities continue efforts to persuade him to accept treatment while adhering to legal and ethical guidelines on patient consent.
As Wangchuk’s fast enters its fourth week, the standoff between his family’s demand for consent-based care and the medical team’s warnings over life-threatening complications remains unresolved. With the Delhi High Court continuing to monitor the case and the CJP-led protest showing no signs of easing, both the activist’s health and the government’s response to the NEET-UG demands are likely to remain in focus in the days ahead.
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