Guwahati, July 19 -- The Delhi High Court on Sunday declined to pass an interim order allowing activist Sonam Wangchuk to be shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility, observing that such a direction was not warranted at this stage. The court directed the authorities to file a fresh status report on his health within three days and listed the matter for hearing on July 24.

Justice Mini Pushkarna said the court had to consider the "larger picture" while hearing a plea filed by Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, seeking permission to shift him to a private hospital of the family's choice.

The court observed that Wangchuk was not in detention and noted that his wife, brother and brother-in-law had been granted access...