New Delhi, 16 July

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed authorities to monitor daily the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar here over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam, and extend medical aid if his condition deteriorates.

Asserting that a citizen's life was precious and all medical efforts ought to be made by authorities to save it, a bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said Wangchuk's condition should be regularly checked by government doctors.

Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre as well as the Delhi government, submitted that life of every individual was precious and there was no objection to undertaking Wangchuk's regular medical checkup. "We observe that life of any citizen is precious and all medical efforts ought to be made by government authorities to save the same," the court said.

"We appreciate the stance taken by the learned Solicitor General and accordingly direct that the medical condition of Wangchuk shall be clinically and otherwise regularly monitored on daily basis, and depending on the opinion of the doctors, whatever medical intervention is required to check his deteriorating health condition shall also be taken," it ordered, as it closed the proceedings on a PIL raising concern over Wangchuk's health.

The Cockroach Janta Party has been holding a protest for over 25 days demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Wangchuk joined the agitation on 28 June and has been on an indefinite fast since then.

During the hearing, the court asked SG Mehta if there was a mechanism to check the fasting activist's health condition and if the authorities had such reports. SG Mehta responded that a health checkup was done on a daily basis and Wangchuk and others were informed of his parameters.

"Whenever he has permitted government doctor to do that, I think we would be having (the reports). Sometimes private doctor also comes to check," the law officer added.

The court, however, said it wanted government doctors toexamine Wangchuk and intervene when necessary. "We are not on private doctors. We would like this person to be regularly medically checked up by government doctors and intervene depending on the report. If medical intervention of any kind is required, please intervene. Life is precious," the court observed.

Petitioner Rakesh Kumar Saini submitted that the authorities should intervene and take care of Wangchuk's deteriorating health when situation so demands. In his PIL, Saini sought a direction to the authorities to come to Wangchuk's aid and "discuss the issue" with him. It also sought a direction to force-feed the activist.

The PIL asserted that although the government did not seem concerned, the court would not allow the State to let a citizen "voluntarily die of hunger".

If Wangchuk loses his life, it would be a matter of great shame for the country, and the least the government is expected to do is give him immediate medical attention to save his life, it added.

The plea further said holding a peaceful protest was a fundamental and democratic right of a citizen and the government's failure to act in the present situation would virtually amount to commission of offence of abetment of suicide.