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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: Noting that fasting activist Sonam Wangchuk<\/a> is a \u201cfree citizen\u201d and not under any detention, Delhi high court<\/a> Sunday, however, refused his wife\u2019s plea to shift him to a private hospital of their choice, saying govt\u2019s decision to admit him to Safdarjung Hospital can\u2019t be seen as \u201carbitrary\u201d.Justice Mini Pushkarna, in a special hearing, held that Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung due to his deteriorating medical condition, and refused to interfere with his ongoing treatment protocol.HC said it has to consider the \u201clarger picture\u201d while hearing a plea filed by Wangchuk\u2019s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo. She also told PTI that the activist will call off his indefinite hunger strike if political functionaries meet him at Safdarjung and assure him that the issue of education accountability will be raised during the monsoon session of Parliament beginning Monday.On the allegation by petitioners that cops crowd Wangchuk\u2019s room and eavesdrop on private conversations, HC highlighted that he was not in detention and that his wife, brother and brother-in-law had been granted \u201cunprecedented\u201d round the clock access to him, apart from his family being given a separate room.No Bodily Autonomy Violated, Says HC<\/span>In the court, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, submitted they wanted Wangchuk to be shifted to Medanta Hospital. Emphasising that he was not under detention, Sibal questioned if a free individual could be prevented from seeking admission to a hospital of his choice.But HC pointed out since Wangchuk \u201con his own volition didn\u2019t check into any hospital facility when his health was worsening, the govt was within its right to take action\u201d in view of the division bench order last week stressing that \u201cevery life is precious\u201d. Justice Pushkarna further noted that Safdarjung doctors were closely monitoring his health and have only administered oral fluids, \u201cit can\u2019t be said that any force is being used or his bodily autonomy being violated\u201d warranting any interim order at this stage. Issuing notice, HC asked govt to file a fresh status report on his health within three days and listed the matter for hearing on July 24. \u201cIt is to be noted that ultimate decision with regard to the medical condition of Sonam Wangchuk would be monitored by the medical team attending him which shall take a decision as per medical protocol,\u201d HC observed.\u201cThis court also takes note of the fact that sugar and sodium levels of Sonam Wangchuk are on the lower side. It also takes into account that his potassium levels are dangerously low level on account of which certain treatment was given to him with consent\u2026 it notes that the petitioner\u2019s husband was on hunger strike for 1718 days where a division bench of this court passed an order looking at his perilous medical condition,\u201d the court added. Angmo, meanwhile, said at the protest at Jantar Mantar: \u201cEvery free citizen of India has right to choose their medical treatment; 30-40 police personnel stationed outside his room and do not allow us to take our phones inside.\u201dAdditional solicitor general Chetan Sharma and standing counsel Ashish Dixit submitted that due to compelling circumstances and deteriorating health of the activist, the govt took such a decision. The govt lawyers cited medical reports to contend that his vital parameters were going down but he isn\u2019t cooperating with the doctors. The ASG said that under \u201cprevailing circumstances the govt has to be extra careful. Whatever happens to him will have consequences, govt has to be circumspect and extra cautious.\u201dHC then directed in the order that \u201cneedless to state, Sonam Wangchuk will cooperate with doctors in administering medical intervention, if he so chooses\u201d. Angmo\u2019s petition accused hospital authorities of sharing only selective information regarding Wangchuk\u2019s medical condition and preventing any independent assessment of his health.She alleged police had taken \u201ccolourable advantage\u201d of the July 16 court order to forcibly remove Wangchuk from the protest site despite there being no medical emergency.The plea questioned the accuracy of the hospital\u2019s medical reports, alleging discrepancies in Wangchuk\u2019s potassium levels.<\/div>\n