New Delhi, 11 March (H.S.): In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court approved passive euthanasia for Ghaziabad resident Harish Rana, who has been bedridden in a vegetative state for nearly 13 years with 100% disability.

Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan permitted the removal of artificial life support, directing AIIMS to admit Rana for palliative care to ensure a dignified process. Rana's parents, having lost hope for recovery, petitioned for this mercy killing via withdrawal of sustaining treatment.

The bench urged Parliament to enact comprehensive laws on euthanasia, building on the 2018 Constitution Bench verdict affirming the right to die with dignity as part of Article 21's right to life. That ruling legalized living wills for passive euthanasia in irreversible cases.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar