In a significant legal development that has captured national attention, Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of the renowned Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk, has officially moved the Supreme Court of India. This legal action comes as a direct challenge to a recent order issued by the Delhi High Court, which had declined her request regarding her husband's medical care. The petition filed in the apex court seeks an urgent intervention, highlighting the critical nature of the circumstances surrounding Sonam Wangchuk's current confinement in a medical facility. Gitanjali Angmo has specifically requested the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to list the matter for an immediate hearing, preferably on Monday, to address the grievances raised in her plea.
The Legal Battle: From High Court to Supreme Court
The sequence of events leading to the Supreme Court petition began when the Delhi High Court delivered a blow to Gitanjali Angmo's efforts on Sunday. She had approached the High Court with a specific prayer to shift Sonam Wangchuk from the government-run Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical institution, while the rationale behind this request was to ensure that he receives medical attention in an environment that the family deems appropriate and safe. However, the Delhi High Court didn't find merit in the plea at that stage and dismissed the petition. Refusing to accept this outcome, Gitanjali Angmo immediately prepared to approach the highest court in the land, asserting that the High Court's decision needs to be reviewed urgently to protect the rights and health of the activist.
Allegations of Forced Hospitalization and Misleading Claims
Dr. Gitanjali Angmo has been vocal about her concerns regarding the manner in which Sonam Wangchuk was taken to the hospital. She has raised serious allegations against the government authorities and the administration of Safdarjung Hospital. According to her, the claim that Sonam Wangchuk's health was in a state of decline is entirely fabricated. She argued that he was forcibly moved to the hospital against his will and without any genuine medical emergency. Dr. Angmo emphasized that the heavy-handedness of the police and the restrictive atmosphere of the hospital aren't only unnecessary but are also actively contributing to a deterioration in his mental and physical well-being. She contends that the activist is being held under the guise of medical care, which she describes as a violation of his personal liberty.
Detailed Medical Evidence and Potassium Levels
To substantiate her claims that the hospitalization was unnecessary, Dr. Gitanjali Angmo provided specific details from Sonam Wangchuk's medical reports, while she cited data from the previous evening to show that his vital signs and other health parameters were perfectly stable. 3.3 is well within the normal and healthy range, indicating no immediate cardiac or metabolic risk. She used this specific data point to counter the official narrative that his health was failing. "They're claiming that his health was deteriorating. They said they brought him because they were very concerned about his health and it was worsening. But both these claims are false. His health wasn't deteriorating. If you look at the reports from the previous evening, everything was absolutely normal. 3, and all other parameters were normal," she stated in an interview with ANI.
The Demand for an Urgent Hearing
The petition filed in the Supreme Court isn't just a challenge to the High Court's order but also a plea for the protection of Sonam Wangchuk's fundamental rights. By requesting an urgent hearing on Monday, Gitanjali Angmo is seeking a swift judicial review of the conditions under which the activist is being kept. The plea emphasizes that every day spent in forced hospitalization under the current circumstances is a cause for concern. The legal team representing her is expected to argue that the medical evidence clearly shows no necessity for the current level of state-mandated medical intervention, while as the matter reaches the Chief Justice of India, the focus remains on whether the apex court will grant the request for an immediate hearing and how it will interpret the medical and legal arguments presented by Wangchuk's family.