11/03/2026
Landmark Judgment on Passive Euthanasia
In a significant development in constitutional jurisprudence, the Hon’ble Supreme Court today delivered a landmark judgment permitting passive euthanasia in the Harish Rana case.
A Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice P.S. Vishwanathan considered the case of Harish Rana, who had been in a vegetative state for nearly 13 years. After reviewing the findings of the medical board, which confirmed that his condition was irreversible, the Court permitted passive euthanasia, recognizing the principle of “death with dignity.”
In a deeply reflective moment during the proceedings, the Bench invoked Shakespeare’s famous words — “To be, or not to be.” The Court also acknowledged the extraordinary courage of Harish Rana’s parents, who took the agonizing decision to allow their son to depart peacefully after years of medical suffering.
