SC directs Sonam Wangchuk’s medical examination by specialist doctor
Fifty-nine-year-old Wangchuk is in custody at Jodhpur Central Jail.
A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale also directed the jail authorities to submit Wangchuk’s medical report in a sealed cover by Monday.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, lawyer for Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo, told the court that an application had been filed seeking directions to the prison authorities for urgent medical examination of the activist.
“He has a stomach problem because of the water. He wants to get checked by a doctor. But no one comes.
Sibal said, “Let him have his weekly check-up and give him the water we give him.”
However, the Rajasthan government’s lawyer said that he was examined by the prison doctor 21 times in the last four months. However, the upper court said that he needed a specialist doctor such as a gastroenterologist.
The counsel for the Rajasthan government informed the court that Wangchuk had been recommended Vitamin B12 and that there was nothing wrong in his final report.
Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj brought on record Wangchuk’s medical report, which showed that from September 26 to January 26, the activist was examined 21 times.
Nataraj said the last medical examination report showed that his blood pressure was normal and even the clinical examination of the chest and abdomen was clear.
The apex court noted Nataraj’s statement that Wangchuk would be examined by a specialist from a government hospital and a report would be submitted in a sealed cover by Monday.
Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests in the Union Territory demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured. The government accused Wangchuk of inciting violence.
The NSA empowers the Center and states to detain individuals to prevent them from behaving in a manner “prejudicial to the defense of India”. The maximum period of detention is 12 months, but it can be canceled earlier.
