THE Delhi High Court on Sunday refused to interfere with activist Sonam Wangchuk’s treatment at Safdarjung Hospital here, stating that the Government’s removal of the fasting activist from Jantar Mantar to a Government hospital cannot be called arbitrary. Justice Mini Pushkarna said no interim order to immediately transfer the activist was required at this stage. The observation came on a petition by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, seeking permission to shift him to a private facility. In a special hearing held on Sunday, Justice Pushkarna said Safdarjung doctors were closely monitoring the activist, and it could not be said that any force was being used against him in violation of his bodily integrity.

 

Taking note of the High Court’s July 16 order directing the authorities to monitor Wangchuk’s health and medically intervene, if necessary, Justice Pushkarna observed that since Wangchuk did not check himself into any hospital facility, the Government was “within its right” to take him to Safdarjung in view of his medical condition. “Since the Government has taken the decision to shift Mr Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital on account of his medical condition, this court does not find the same to an arbitrary action. Since the doctors at Safdarjung hospital are closely monitoring the health of Mr Sonam Wangchuk and have only adMinistered oral fluids, potassium chloride and oral ORS without sugar with consent of Mr Sonam Wangchuk, it cannot be said that any force is being used or his body autonomy is being violated in any manner,” said the court.