Indian man in 13-year vegetative state allowed to die by Supreme Court

India's Supreme Court has granted permission for the parents of Harish Rana, a 31-year-old man, to withdraw his life support after he spent 13 years in a vegetative state following a fall in Chandigarh. Rana, a quadriplegic dependent on feeding tubes, had his parents as primary caregivers after a high court initially denied their request in 2024. The Supreme Court's decision is viewed as a significant application of the right to die with dignity under the Indian constitution. Experts believe this ruling will likely influence the implementation of India's legal framework for passive euthanasia. The case highlights the complex ethical and legal considerations surrounding end-of-life care in India.

In March 2026, India's Supreme Court approved the country's first case of passive euthanasia, allowing the withdrawal of life support for Harish Rana, a 32-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh who has been in a vegetative state since 2013 due to severe head injuries. The decision, made by Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan, followed a petition by Rana's father seeking to end life-sustaining treatment. The court noted Rana's lack of meaningful interaction and dependence on others, with no prospect of recovery. While India recognized passive euthanasia in 2018, this is the first instance of court-approved withdrawal of life support for an individual lacking a living will. The ruling was based on the consensus of the family and medical boards that clinically administered nutrition should be discontinued.

India's Supreme Court has approved the removal of life support for Harish Rana, a 31-year-old man who has been in a vegetative state since 2013 after suffering severe head injuries. This marks the first instance of court-approved passive euthanasia in India, which was legalized in 2018. Rana's parents had petitioned the courts for years, citing depleted savings and concerns for his future care. The court noted Rana's lack of meaningful interaction and dependence on others for self-care. While passive euthanasia is legal in India, active euthanasia remains illegal. The case has sparked debate about the ethics of court-approved passive euthanasia, particularly in the absence of a living will.