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A Bench comprising JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan permitted passive euthanasia, emphasising the constitutional principle of the “right to die with dignity.”
Top Court allows withdrawal of life support for Harish Rana
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday delivered a landmark verdict in the Harish Rana euthanasia case, allowing the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for the 32-year-old man who has remained in a permanent vegetative state (PVS) for more than 13 years.
A Bench comprising JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan permitted passive euthanasia, emphasising the constitutional principle of the “right to die with dignity.”
The verdict came in response to a plea filed by the family of Harish Rana, seeking permission to withdraw life-support treatment. The Court said the decision was taken after extensive consultations with the family, medical boards and legal representatives.
Court Directs Treatment Under Medical Supervision
The court directed that Rana be admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, where doctors will carry out the necessary medical procedures.
Justice Pardiwala emphasised that the withdrawal of medical treatment must be conducted in a humane and carefully supervised manner.
“The medical treatment should be removed gradually and under the supervision of doctors,” he said, adding that such a process does not necessarily have to take place inside a hospital and could also be carried out at home if required.
What Happened to Harish Rana?
Harish Rana, a civil engineering student at Chandigarh University, fell from the fourth-floor balcony of his paying guest accommodation on August 20, 2013.
Rana suffered severe head injuries, resulting in 100% disability. Doctors who treated him initially said he was unable to open his eyes or move his limbs. Since the accident, Harish Rana has remained in a permanent vegetative state.
For the past 13 years, Harish’s family has spent most of their time caring for him at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi.
