Landmark Ruling: Supreme Court Allows Passive Euthanasia of 32-Yr-Old Man
The Supreme Court allowed passive euthanasia for 32-year-old Harish Rana, who has been in a permanent vegetative state since a 2013 accident and had not been responding to treatment
March 11, 2026 - In a landmark judgement today (March 11), the Supreme Court passed its first-ever order allowing passive euthanasia for a 32-year-old man who has been in a vegetative state for the past 13 years.
Harish Rana had fallen off a building in 2013 and suffered serious injuries and was since then on a life support and in an irreversible permanent vegetative state.
The Bench passed the order on a miscellaneous application of the father seeking to remove all life-sustaining treatment from his son.
A two-judge Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan said, "Harish Rana was once a bright young 20-year-old boy pursuing education at Punjab University when he had a fall from the fourth floor of a building and sustained brain injuries. Harish was discharged, but a brain injury left him in a persistent vegetative state. He experiences a sleep-wake cycle and is dependent on others. The medical report shows no improvement in 13 years."
Justice JB Pardiwala was visibly moved while delivering the judgement. The Court said that while a doctor's duty is to treat a patient, "that duty no longer sustains when the patient has no hope of recovery".
Recognising the fundamental right to die with dignity, the Court also recommended that the Union Government bring comprehensive legislation in this regard.
Source: Media Reports
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