Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike: Can Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike be forcibly broken, what are the rules?

• Cockroach Janata Party protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi
• Alarming situation due to hunger strike of Sonam Wangchuk
• The court cannot remain a silent spectator

Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike: Jantar Mantar in Delhi Cockroach Janata PartyThe movement is going on. Education expert Sonam Wangchuk is fasting to death in this protest and today is the 18th day of her indefinite fast. In the last 18 days, Wangchuk has lost more than 8 kg and now his condition is critical. Protesters at Jantar Mantar are worried about Sonam Wangchuk’s deteriorating health. A PIL has been filed in court urging the judiciary to save his life, amid warnings from doctors. At this point, the question now arises whether Wangchuck’s fast could be forcibly broken to save his life.

Sonam Wangchuk: ‘Death of Sonam Wangchuk in two days

Who filed PIL and what is it?

Sonam Wangchuk His health is critical and lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini has filed a Public Interest Litigation for him in the Delhi High Court. The petition has demanded that the central government, Delhi government and the local administration should provide urgent medical care to Wangchuk and give strict instructions to resolve the issues raised by him. Also, he has lost more than 8 kg due to fasting for the last 18 days. If they continue their fast, they may die within two days, the petition also stated.

Can the court forcefully end the fast?

According to legal experts on the subject, courts generally cannot directly order any citizen to end a hunger strike. But when it is a question of life and death of a fast-tracker, the court cannot remain a silent spectator. In such an emergency, the courts can give strict directions to the government and local administration to maintain 24-hour medical surveillance of the protestor, conduct regular health check-ups and provide necessary life-saving treatment if necessary.

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Is this Wangchuk’s first fast?

This is not the first time Wangchuk has gone on hunger strike in this manner. In the past, he has staged two large hunger strikes as part of the ‘Save Ladakh’ movement. Wangchuk went on a 21-day weather hunger strike on March 6, 2024, in temperatures below zero degrees Celsius. He then observed another 16-day fast in October 2024. His main demands were to grant statehood to Ladakh, include it in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and ensure protection of the region’s environment. But their demands were not fulfilled.