Why Was Sonam Wangchuk Hospitalised? Centre Tells Delhi HC His Potassium Levels Were Low

The Central Government on Sunday argued before the Delhi High Court that activist Sonam Wangchuk’s health had been deteriorating due to prolonged fasting, seeking to justify his hospitalisation. The remarks were made during a special hearing in the Court on his wife’s request to shift him from Safdarjung Hospital to a private facility.

Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, moved the Delhi HC and sought an urgent hearing to shift the activist from the Safdarjung Government Hospital to a private facility.

A single-Judge Bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna was hearing the petition.

The Bench asked Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Centre, whether there were “compelling circumstances” under which Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital,

Bar and Bench reported.

“There was a deteriorating condition. On 18 days of fasting in humid weather which can dehydrate any normal person, this leads to ketosis”, ASG Sharma told the Court.

He highlighted the consequences of prolonged fasting, saying: “The fasting can cause a serious medical condition to Wangchuk due to low potassium. His kidney functioning may get impaired.”

“President of India takes treatment in AIIMS govt hospital”, he noted, arguing that Angmo was granted access to her husband in the hospital.

“We are not stopping and we wont. We do not rely on private records. We will rely upon AIIMS. I am prepared to go to this extent that…Safdarjung is top-notch. Assuming that my friend still has [issues], he can be shifted to AIIMS”, Sharma argued, Bar and Bench reported.

‘Is A Citizen Of India…?

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned before the Court the order passed in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in connection with Wangchuk’s hunger strike.

Seeking permission for the activist’s treatment at a private facility, he said: “The problem at Safdarjung is that there is no access to his doctors and lawyers; we have no idea. We decided that he should be discharged. We want doctors and a hospital of our choice”, according to Bar and Bench. 

Sibal told the High Court that his client, Gitanjali J Angmo, had already spoken to Medanta, a private multi-speciality hospital, as he sought his discharge from Safdarjung. “We have talked to Medanta. We seek his discharge so that we can go to Medanta. They’re going to send an ambulance, and we’ll go there and take our treatment there. That’s our limited prayer”, he told the Bench.

While highlighting that there is no case against Wangchuk, Sibal asked:  Is a citizen of India not entitled to say that I want to go to a hospital of my choice for my health?”

A Quick Recap

In her petition, Gitanjali J Angmo stated that there was no medical emergency warranting abrupt “coercive intervention”, as his vital parameters were stable and that he was under continuous medical supervision at Jantar Mantar, according to the Bar and Bench. 

She claimed that despite repeated requests, the hospital authorities had disclosed selective information and declined the family’s request to shift Wangchuk to another facility.

In her petition, Angmo also demanded an unrestricted access to Wangchuk by the doctors who had been examining him for the last 20 days and also to his legal counsel.

While on an indefinite hunger strike, the activist waswhisked away from Jantar Mantar by Delhi Police on Saturday and taken to Safdarjung Hospital. The action followed a Delhi High Court order directing the government to monitor his health and take measures to save his life.

In a post on ‘X’, Angmo wrote: “I have moved the High Court and sought an urgent hearing today, praying for permission to shift Sonam before his health deteriorates further. No family should have to fight the system simply to choose where their loved one receives medical care.”

I have lost faith in Safdarjung Government Hospital.
The hospital told us @Wangchuk66’s potassium had dropped to 2.9, describing it as alarming and life-threatening. Yet, in its public health bulletin, it conveniently omitted the actual number, referring only to “decreasing…

— Gitanjali J Angmo (@GitanjaliAngmo) July 19, 2026

She alleged that the hospital had told her that Wangchuk’s potassium had dropped to 2.9, describing it as “alarming” and “life-threatening”, even though the actual number was “conveniently omitted” in the public bulletin.

Meanwhile, a bulletin by the hospital said Wangchuk was receiving the “required medical intervention” and that his “vital parameters were stable.”

“Sonam Wangchuk is being given the required medical intervention at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital. His vital parameters are stable at present; however, his blood parameters remain marginally altered, and considering the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting, he requires continuous medical care under the close observation of a multidisciplinary team of experts”, the statement read.

Sonam Wangchuk, an activist and an educator, has been at the forefront of a Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following allegations of paper leaks in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 exam. He joined the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar on June 28 and kicked off an indefinite hunger strike.