The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a comprehensive record of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's medical condition and directed authorities to place all relevant health documents before the court as it considered a plea seeking his transfer to a private medical facility.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the authorities to submit all pathological reports prepared by Safdarjung Hospital, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and a private laboratory, along with every health bulletin issued regarding Wangchuk's condition. "The report should include today's sample analysis," the bench said.
The court also directed the appellant to file reports of tests conducted through the private laboratory. It further ordered the doctor heading the medical team treating Wangchuk at Safdarjung Hospital, the Director of AIIMS and Dr Akshay, in-charge of Emergency Medicine at AIIMS, to remain present before the court on Tuesday.
The bench also requested the doctor engaged by Wangchuk's family to appear before it and assist the court in assessing the activist's medical condition. The court said it would take a decision on Tuesday on whether to permit Wangchuk's wife, Angmo, to shift him to a private medical facility.
The directions were issued during the hearing of an appeal filed by Wangchuk's wife challenging a single judge's refusal to interfere with the Centre's decision to shift the climate activist to Safdarjung Hospital.
The appeal has brought Wangchuk's medical condition and the circumstances surrounding his hospitalisation into sharper focus. The court's latest directions indicate that it intends to examine the medical records and expert assessments in detail before deciding on the request to move him to a private facility.
On Sunday, a single judge had upheld the government's decision to shift Wangchuk to the hospital. The court had observed that the decision was not arbitrary in view of his deteriorating health following weeks of fasting.
The single judge had issued notice to the Centre and directed it to file a status report within three days. "Since the government has taken the decision to shift him to the hospital on account of his medical condition, this court does not find the same to be an arbitrary action," the court had observed.
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It had also noted that doctors at Safdarjung Hospital were closely monitoring Wangchuk's health and were providing only oral substances in accordance with his consent. "Since doctors at Safdarjung are closely monitoring his health and have only given oral things as per his consent, it can't be said any force is being used against him," the single judge had added.
The matter will now come up again before the division bench on Tuesday, when the court is expected to consider the medical records and hear the doctors involved in Wangchuk's treatment.
The court's directions are expected to provide a detailed assessment of the activist's health and the medical care being provided to him. The bench will also consider the request for his transfer to a private facility after examining the reports and hearing the medical experts.
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