Supreme Court allows withdrawal of life support to 31-year-old man in coma for over 12 years

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (March 11, 2026) allowed passive euthanasia for a 31-year-old man who has been in a comatose condition for more than 12 years, by withdrawing his artificial life support.

A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan directed the withdrawal of clinically-assisted nutrition and hydration to Harish Rana, who is in a persistent vegetative state after a fall while a Punjab University student 13 years ago. Justice Pardiwala and Justice Viswanathan directed AIIMS Delhi to shift Mr. Rana from his residence to the palliative centre. The top court ordered that the withdrawal of life support must not be a “single act” but a structured and clearly articulated withdrawal.

The Bench had personally met Mr. Rana’s parents and siblings, who said they did not want him to suffer anymore. Mr. Rana had sustained severe head injuries and 100% quadriplegic disability after sustaining a fall from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation as a Panjab University student in 2013. He has been bed-ridden for over 13 years now.

J. Pardiwala said withdrawal of life support must be guided by factors, including whether life support provided to the patient qualify as medical treatment; whether medicines have any therapeutic benefit, but only works to prolong life, pain and suffering for the patient; and whether it would be in the best interest of the patient to artificially prolong life.

The judgment is the first instance of practical implementation of 2018 Constitution Bench guidelines in the Common Cause case on the procedure of withdrawal of life support system

J Viswanathan, in a separate opinion, concurred with Justice Pardiwala.

Both Judges on the Bench emphasised that the withdrawal of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) must be carried out in a sensitive manner keeping in mind foremost the dignity of the patient. It must not be an “act of abandonment”

The court also directed CMOs in all districts to have panels each of registered medical practitioners to constitute primary and secondary medical boards to examine applications for withdrawal of life support The SC said the jurisdictional Judicial First Class Magistrates must be applied to in case primary and secondary medical boards unanimously recommend withdrawal of life support in cases

The SC urged the Centre for enacting specific legislation detailing procedure for life support withdrawal.

In his conclusion, Justice Pardiwala said the case of Harish Rana lays bare the fragility and transient nature of human life. The Judge said Mr. Rana had after his fall led a life of pain and suffering of which he was even stripped of the ability to voice. The Judge reached out to the parents and siblings of Mr. Rana, telling them they were unyielding pillars of support and dedication to him. “The greatest tragedy in life is not death but abandonment. You are not giving up on your son…” Justice Pardiwala concluded.