The Supreme Court of India is likely to deliver a significant judgment on Wednesday in a case involving a Ghaziabad man who has been in a permanent vegetative state for nearly 13 years. His family has sought permission to withdraw life-sustaining medical support and allow passive euthanasia.
A Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan is to pronounce its verdict on March 11 in the plea concerning Harish Rana. He has remained bedridden since 2013 after suffering severe head injuries from a fall from the fourth floor while he was a student.
Rana, now around 30 years old, has been in a permanent vegetative state with 100 per cent disability and quadriplegia, requiring continuous medical support for breathing, feeding and daily care.
During earlier proceedings, the apex court directed the formation of a Primary Medical Board to assess whether life-sustaining treatment could be withdrawn in accordance with the Supreme Court’s guidelines on passive euthanasia.
Medical experts who visited Rana at his residence reported that he was lying in bed with a tracheostomy tube for respiration and a gastrostomy tube for feeding, noting that the ‘chances of his recovery from this state is negligible’.
The court later instructed All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi to constitute a Secondary Medical Board to independently evaluate his medical condition.
Case Background
The case originated from a petition filed before the Delhi High Court by Rana’s parents seeking the constitution of a medical board to consider passive euthanasia.
The High Court dismissed the plea, observing that active euthanasia is impermissible under Indian law.
When the matter reached the Supreme Court in August 2024, the court issued a notice to the Union government, seeking a humanitarian solution as the parents struggled to continue caring for their son.
In November 2024, the apex court disposed of the matter after recording a government proposal to provide home-based medical assistance, including physiotherapy visits, dietician support, nursing care and free medicines.
However, the court allowed the parents to approach it again if they required further directions.
The family later returned to the court, stating that Rana’s condition had deteriorated further with no improvement despite years of treatment.
After extensive hearings and written submissions, the Bench led by Justice Pardiwala reserved its verdict on January 15 this year.
The court will now determine whether to permit passive euthanasia in Rana’s case under the legal framework governing the right to die with dignity.
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