SC directs Sonam Wangchuk’s medical examination by specialist

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed medical examination by a specialist doctor of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after he complained of stomach issues due to water contamination. Fifty-nine-year-old Wangchuk is under detention in the Jodhpur Central Jail. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale also directed the jail authorities to furnish Wangchuk’s medical report in a sealed cover by Monday.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo, told the court that an application seeking directions to jail authorities for immediate medical examination of the activist has been filed. “He has problems in his stomach because of the water. He has been wanting a doctor to check. But nobody comes. Let him have a weekly check. And let him have the water we provide,” Sibal submitted. The counsel appearing for the Rajasthan Government, however, said that he has been examined by the jail doctor 21 times in the past four months.The Supreme Court, however, said that he needs a specialist doctor such as a gastroenterologist.