New Delhi, July 19 (HS): Activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, has moved the Delhi High Court seeking permission to shift him from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility, alleging that the activist is being subjected to illegal detention under the guise of medical care.

In a post on X on Sunday, Angmo said she had lost faith in Safdarjung Hospital and sought an urgent hearing on her plea, asserting that the family should be allowed to choose the hospital where Wangchuk receives treatment.

She alleged that despite repeated requests, the hospital had refused to discharge Wangchuk or permit his transfer to a private hospital. Angmo also claimed that a large police presence inside the hospital had severely restricted the family's movement.

It is not medical care. It is illegal detention, she said, adding that no family should have to fight the system to choose where their loved one receives treatment.

Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday after completing 21 days of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. Police had said the action was taken in compliance with the Delhi High Court's directions and on the advice of government doctors.

Meanwhile, Safdarjung Hospital on Sunday said Wangchuk was receiving the required medical intervention and remained under the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of doctors.

In a health bulletin, the hospital said Wangchuk's vital parameters were stable, though his blood parameters remained marginally altered due to the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting.

The hospital said doctors from VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, along with experts from AIIMS, New Delhi, were of the view that sustained medical intervention and round-the-clock monitoring were essential to promptly detect and manage any complications.

The hospital also noted that Wangchuk had earlier declined intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and medications despite repeated counselling by the treating team and an independent AIIMS expert, while the family had not provided consent for the recommended medical intervention.

Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar