Delhi HC dismisses PIL over Sonam Wangchuk’s removal from Jantar Mantar
The Delhi High Court dismissed a public interest litigation seeking an investigation into the police removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from a protest site. The court noted that the petitioner could pursue legal remedies under the BNSS and that previous concerns regarding his hospitalization had already been addressed.
Why it matters
This case highlights the intersection of civil protest rights, judicial oversight of police actions, and the legal processes available to activists in India.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) against the forcible shifting of activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital on the 21st day of his hunger strike.
A bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that the issue of Mr. Wangchuk’s hospitalisation at Safdarjung Hospital was earlier raised by his wife before the high court and the matter was “disposed of to their satisfaction”.
“Since an FIR is sought to be lodged in relation to a reportedly solitary incident, it is always open for the petitioner to take recourse to 173 of BNSS,” the court said.
On July 18, the Delhi Police whisked Mr. Wangchuk away from the protest site at Jantar Mantar and forcibly shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital.
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