New Delhi, July 15: An urgent judicial intervention has been sought to safeguard the life of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk through a newly filed public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court. The petition calls upon both the Union and Delhi governments to step in with necessary medical support for the activist, who has been on a continuous fast since June 28. The legal document explicitly requests the authorities to administer essential liquid nutrition, vitamins, and proteins to prevent further bodily deterioration.
The timing of the legal request is tied directly to reports regarding the activist’s declining physical state. According to recent assessments cited in the plea, the prolonged fast has led to a significant loss of over eight kilograms alongside repeated bouts of dizziness and muscle wasting. Advocate Rakesh Kumar Saini, who filed the litigation, affirmed, “The case directly concerns the life of a public activist on a hunger strike, and the current condition of the protestor means his life could be at serious risk if the fast continues without medical oversight.”
The filing introduces a legal perspective concerning state responsibility during peaceful democratic protests. While recognizing the right to hold a protest, the petition argues that the government holds a fundamental duty to preserve human life. The petitioner stated, “The authorities cannot remain passive spectators under these circumstances, and ignoring the situation would contradict the explicit public duties outlined by our framework.”
The plea seeks a twin approach from the administration, combining medical aid with an open channel of communication to address the underlying issues raised by the protest. The final outcome of the urgent listing request is now dependent on how the court operates during an ongoing strike by the Delhi High Court Bar Association. Legal professionals have been asked to abstain from all court appearances to voice their opposition against increasing the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts, which has left the daily calendar uncertain.
