Delhi HC dismisses PIL over Sonam Wangchuk’s removal from Jantar Mantar

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed against activist Sonam Wangchuk’s forcible transfer from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital on the 21st day of her hunger strike.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that the issue of Mr Wangchuk’s admission to Safdarjung Hospital was earlier raised before the high court by his wife and the matter was “resolved to their satisfaction”.

“Since it is sought to lodge an FIR in respect of an isolated incident reported, it is always open for the petitioner to resort to Section 173 of the BNSS,” the court said.

On July 18, Delhi Police removed Mr. Wangchuk from the protest site at Jantar Mantar and forcibly transferred him to Safdarjung Hospital.

The petitioner sought directions to register an FIR against all police personnel and other officials who “committed cognisable offenses while dispersing the peaceful protest held at Jantar Mantar on July 18, 2026” as well as constituting an SIT to ensure a fair, impartial and transparent investigation.

It also sought an order to preserve all medical reports, treating doctors’ opinions and decision-making process regarding Mr Wangchuk’s transfer from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital.

On Tuesday, the court ordered immediate transfer of Mr Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital here to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, on the plea of ​​his wife Gitanjali Angmo.