'Worried About What's Being Done To Him': Sonam Wangchuk's Wife Writes To Delhi HC Chief For Urgent Hearing Today

Following the removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi police, his wife Gitanjali Angmo has written a letter to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court seeking immediate release of her husband from the hospital.In the alternative, she seeks an urgent hearing of her petition seeking similar relief today itself.Angmo alleges that Wangchuk was forcibly taken away from Jantar Mantar, where he has been protesting peacefully in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party and students protesting against NEET paper leaks. She claims that he has been detained for over 24 hours without access to legal counsel and medical help of his choice.The letter adds that Wangchuk was completely stable when he was removed by the Delhi police authorities from the site and no consent was taken from him or Angmo before transferring him to Safdarjung Hospital. Angmo highlights that the transfer was stated to be in compliance of the High Court's order, but that order only directed continuous monitoring of his health and not forcible removal from the site."I fear that decisions are being made about his body and his life, behind closed doors, without his consent and without any independent oversight, and that by the time this Hon'ble Court is able to take up my petition in the ordinary course, it may be too late to undo what has been done", Angmo writes.The letter further states that 3 requests have been made to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital for Wangchuk's discharge, for him to be treated at a hospital of his choosing, and for nothing to be administered to him without his or Angmo's consent. However, the requests have been ignored or refused. Further, she has not been allowed to take her phone inside when meeting Wangchuk.Angmo claims that her husband's confinement at Safdarjung Hospital is "unlawful and non-consensual". She underlines that he has a fundamental right of access to legal counsel and medical help of his choice.She further states that she has been informed by the High Court registry that the matter cannot be listed today (being a Sunday). In this backdrop, she says, she is compelled to write the letter, as every passing hour may result in grave and irreversible prejudice to Wangchuk.The letter further claims that when Angmo reached Safdarjung Hospital (after Wangchuk was transferred to it), she was shown a copy of a report stating that Wangchuk's potassium level had dropped to 2.9. The same was however not supplied to her and she insisted on an independent test. Wangchuk's blood sample for the test was allegedly given by the hospital to her about 10.5 hours later, which when tested, showed the potassium level at 3.6 (essentially normal)."I do not understand this discrepancy, and I am deeply worried about what is actually being done to my husband inside that hospital", Angmo has written.She further highlights that Wangchuk is a peaceful man who has given his life to the people of Ladakh through entirely non-violent, Gandhian means. He is not a criminal, and no order of arrest, detention or any other lawful authority sanctions what is being done to him, she says.Senior Advocate Vivek Thankha will represent Mr. WangchukClick Here To Read Petition

'Worried About What's Being Done To Him': Sonam Wangchuk's Wife Writes To Delhi HC Chief For Urgent Hearing Today

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'Worried About What's Being Done To Him': Sonam Wangchuk's Wife Writes To Delhi HC Chief For Urgent Hearing Today

Debby Jain

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Debby Jain

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