New Delhi: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has permitted the withdrawal of life support for a 31-year-old man from Ghaziabad who has remained in a vegetative state for more than a decade following a severe accident. Acting on a plea from his parents, the court ruled that ending artificial medical support could proceed under medical supervision while ensuring the patient’s dignity.
The case involves Harish Rana, a former student of Panjab University. In 2013, Rana reportedly fell from the fourth floor of a paying guest accommodation, suffering serious brain injuries that left him permanently incapacitated. Since then, he has relied on medical equipment, including a tracheostomy tube for breathing and a gastrojejunostomy tube for nutrition, with no sign of recovery.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan observed that medical intervention should continue only when it serves the patient’s best interests and offers a realistic chance of improvement. The judges noted that after 13 years without progress, the continuation of life-sustaining treatment no longer served a therapeutic purpose.
In its order, the court directed that Rana be admitted to the palliative care unit at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where doctors will oversee the process of gradually withdrawing life support. The judges emphasised that the procedure must be handled carefully through a planned approach that preserves the patient’s dignity.
The bench also reflected on the emotional toll endured by the family. The court acknowledged the dedication of Rana’s parents, noting that they had cared for their son continuously since the accident despite the immense physical and emotional strain.
Beyond the individual case, the court urged the central government to consider enacting legislation to provide clearer guidelines on passive euthanasia. At present, such decisions in India require judicial oversight and the assessment of medical boards before life support can be withdrawn.
The ruling builds upon the precedent set in the landmark 2011 decision in Aruna Shanbaug vs Union of India. In that case, the court recognised passive euthanasia in limited circumstances after reviewing the situation of Aruna Shanbaug, who remained in a vegetative state for decades following a brutal assault.
While the court had declined to allow withdrawal of life support in Shanbaug’s case, it laid down guidelines that opened the door for passive euthanasia under strict conditions. The latest verdict marks another milestone in the evolving legal and ethical debate surrounding end-of-life decisions in India.
