New Delhi: The Delhi High Court is set to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) on Wednesday seeking immediate medical intervention for activist Sonam Wangchuk, including his hospitalisation and force-feeding, as his indefinite hunger strike enters its 17th day and concerns over his deteriorating health continue to mount.

The petition, filed by advocate Rakesh Kumar Saini, has urged the court to direct the Centre and the Delhi government to shift Wangchuk to a government hospital and ensure he receives necessary medical treatment to protect his life.

According to the petition, Wangchuk has lost around 8.25 kg during the hunger strike and is suffering from repeated episodes of low blood sugar, dizziness, severe muscle loss and weakness. Referring to a newspaper report published on July 14, the plea states that his condition has deteriorated to such an extent that his life could be at serious risk if the fast continues.

Seeking urgent listing, the petitioner submitted that the case concerns the life of a public activist on hunger strike and that the State has remained insensitive despite the alarming deterioration in his health. The urgency application states that immediate judicial intervention is necessary to prevent irreparable harm.

The petition states that Wangchuk, a climate activist from Ladakh, has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of public demands and that no meaningful dialogue has been initiated by the authorities despite the prolonged protest. It contends that while peaceful protest and hunger strike are democratic rights, the State has a constitutional obligation to protect the life and health of every citizen.

The petitioner has further argued that allowing a citizen's health to deteriorate without intervention would amount to a failure of the government's constitutional and public duties.

The plea also refers to the provisions relating to abetment of suicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, asserting that the authorities cannot remain passive spectators when a person's life is in imminent danger.

The matter is scheduled to come up before a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.

According to the plea, the authorities should “... take him to a government hospital and force-feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals, by way of a liquid diet which are necessary for a human body to survive.”

The petition also seeks directions to the Centre and the Delhi government to safeguard Wangchuk's life and health by providing urgent medical care.

The hearing comes as Wangchuk's condition reportedly continues to worsen. The activist is said to be suffering from muscle loss and is in "immense pain", but has refused to end his fast despite repeated appeals from political leaders and civil society groups.

Several prominent leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, have urged Wangchuk to call off his hunger strike and appealed to the government to initiate dialogue.

Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over the NEET issue for the past 25 days, also extended support to Wangchuk while unveiling a five-point charter seeking reforms in the country's examination system. The group claimed its agitation was drawing support from leaders across political parties.