The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, 15 July, accepted an urgent public interest litigation raising concern over the health of Ladakhi engineer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since 28 June 2026.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notice to the Central Government and the Delhi Government, directing both to file their response by Thursday, 16 July. The bench described the matter as urgent and adjourned the hearing to Thursday after no counsel appeared for the Union of India during the sitting, citing the ongoing work abstention called by the Delhi High Court bar association.
“Having regard to urgency, list tomorrow,” the bench said.
The PIL was filed by lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, who appeared in person. Saini submitted: “Most unfortunate situation. Social activist who is on protest in exercise of his fundamental right against highly criticised govt actual is virtually committing an act of taking his own life in front of the whole nation.”
What the PIL asks for
The petition seeks directions to the Central Government and the Delhi Government to take Wangchuk to a government hospital and administer urgent medical treatment, including force-feeding if necessary.
The plea states: “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 further seeks a direction to the government to protect the life and health of Wangchuk. It states that his health has deteriorated rapidly: he has lost more than 8 kg since beginning the protest on 28 June and his blood sugar levels have dropped significantly. The petition warns that if the hunger strike continues, Wangchuk could lose his life within days.
Why Wangchuk is on hunger strike
Wangchuk joined the protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar on 28 June 2026. The CJP, a youth-centric political movement that originated as an online satirical collective in May 2026, has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, including allegations of a paper leak.
The movement takes its name from a remark by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant in May 2026, who compared students who cheated in examinations to cockroaches. The CJP was founded by Abhijeet Dipke, a Boston University student and US-based activist. The organisation has also demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide due to alleged examination irregularities.
A peaceful march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament has been announced for 20 July 2026, the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Wangchuk posted on X on 8 July: “Thanks for all your messages to break my Hunger Strike, but that wouldn’t help the 20 students who committed suicide nor will that help protect the mountains of Ladakh or the rivers of India. If you really want to help then do a little…”
Who is Sonam Wangchuk?
Who is Sonam Wangchuk?
Sonam Wangchuk, born 1 September 1966, is a Ladakhi engineer, innovator, education reformer and environmentalist. He is the founding director of the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, established in 1988, which has reformed the government school system in the region. He invented the Ice Stupa technique, which creates artificial glaciers to store winter water for use by Himalayan farming communities during spring. He won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018.He has been widely described as the real-life inspiration behind the character Phunsukh Wangdu in the 2009 Bollywood film 3 Idiots, though Wangchuk himself has repeatedly clarified that he was never approached or consulted by the filmmakers and does not identify with the character. He was detained under the National Security Act during Ladakh protests in September 2024 and released on 14 March 2026 after the Ministry of Home Affairs revoked his detention.
The political and diaspora response
Wangchuk’s hunger strike has drawn responses from across the political spectrum. Opposition leader Mahua Moitra posted on X on 14 July: “Sonam Sir, your fast has united this country’s youth in their war for justice. Your goal is reached. Govt doesn’t care about your life or that of crores of youth. But your life matters to us. Pls call off fast & continue the fight.”
A delegation from the Aam Aadmi Party, led by former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, visited the protest site and expressed support. CPI(M) MP Amra Ram and senior party leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan also visited and extended their backing.
Indian-American actor Omi Vaidya, who played Chatur Ramalingam in 3 Idiots, publicly backed Wangchuk on social media from the United States, appealing for greater awareness of his deteriorating health. “I don’t want Phunsukh Wangdu to die,” Vaidya said in a video posted to his Instagram. “Hello idiots, pehchana? This is Omi Vaidya, Chatur from ‘3 Idiots’. I have an important message for you.” Vaidya explained the real-life inspiration behind Wangchuk’s work to an audience that includes a large Indian-American following.
The CJP’s founder Abhijeet Dipke, based in Boston, Massachusetts, has also been travelling to India to lead protests in person. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray received Dipke on 14 July and urged Wangchuk to end his hunger strike given the health concerns.
What the government has said
The Central Government had not issued any formal public response to the hunger strike or to the PIL as of the time of publication on 15 July. The PIL places both the Central Government and the Delhi Government under a court direction to file their response by Thursday, 16 July.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whose resignation is being demanded, has not issued a statement directly addressing Wangchuk’s hunger strike or health condition in the current news cycle.
What comes next
The Delhi High Court hearing on 16 July will determine whether the court issues any interim directions to the government, including whether Wangchuk should be taken for medical examination or treatment against his will.
Force-feeding a hunger striker raises significant questions under Indian constitutional law, including the right to life under Article 21 and the right to protest under Article 19. The court’s approach to the PIL is being watched closely by legal observers.
The CJP’s march to Parliament on 20 July, the first day of the Monsoon Session, will bring the NEET accountability demands directly to the legislative calendar. The march is expected to draw significant participation from the youth movement that has rallied around the protest since May 2026.
Wangchuk’s condition as of 15 July: he has been fasting for 17 days, has lost more than 8 kg, his blood sugar has dropped and Citizens for Justice and Peace reports he has begun to lose muscle mass.
What the Indian diaspora needs to know
Who is the Cockroach Janta Party and why is it significant?
The CJP is a youth-led political movement founded in May 2026 by Abhijeet Dipke, a Boston University student, following a remark by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant comparing exam cheats to cockroaches. The movement adopted the term satirically. It has gained significant traction among young Indians in India and in the diaspora, particularly on social media. It is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide over NEET irregularities.
What is the NEET paper leak and why does it matter?
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test is India’s primary medical entrance examination. Allegations of a paper leak and irregularities in the examination process became a major national controversy in 2025-26, affecting hundreds of thousands of aspirants who sit the exam each year. The controversy has led to demands for systemic reform of India’s examination administration. Many Indian diaspora families have relatives in India who have sat or are preparing to sit the NEET.
Could court order force-feed Wangchuk?
The PIL specifically seeks this direction. Force-feeding a hunger striker is legally contested in India. It engages both the right to life under Article 21 and the right to bodily autonomy. The Delhi High Court’s handling of this question on Thursday will set the legal tone for how the state responds to the protest.
Why does Wangchuk’s protest resonate with the global Indian diaspora?
Wangchuk has an international following built over decades through his work on education reform, climate innovation and Ladakh’s environmental challenges. His detention under the National Security Act in 2024 drew significant attention from the diaspora. The 3 Idiots connection, despite Wangchuk’s own reservations about it, makes him recognisable to Indian-origin audiences worldwide. Omi Vaidya’s appeal from the US reflects the diaspora’s active engagement with this protest.
