While allowing euthanasia in the Harish Rana case of Ghaziabad, Supreme Court judge Justice JB Pardiwala became very emotional and his eyes became moist. On Wednesday (March 11, 2026), the bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Vishwanathan approved the application of passive euthanasia of the family of Harish Rana of Ghaziabad.
Harish Rana has been bedridden for 13 years. He was studying in Punjab University in the year 2013, where he suffered serious head injuries due to falling from the fourth floor of the hostel, which also affected his brain. Since then he has been bedridden and there has been no improvement in his condition in 13 years. Harish’s family had filed a petition on this basis, appealing for euthanasia for him.
Justice Pardiwala said that this is very sad. This is a difficult decision for us, but we cannot keep this boy (Harish) in such immense pain. We are at that stage where we have to take the final decision. The Supreme Court praised Harish Rana’s family and said that his family never left him. Loving someone means taking care of them even in the worst times.
The court has approved the application of Harish’s family and ordered to remove his medical support system. While giving this decision, the court said that the main question here is not whether death in such cases is in the best interest of the patient, but whether it is in his interest to keep him alive on life sustaining treatment. The court said that Harish will be admitted to the palliative care of AIIMS so that medical treatment can be withdrawn. The court said that it should be ensured that this process is completed with complete dignity.
Due to continuous lying on the bed, Harish has developed wounds on his body. Paralyzed Harish needs medical assistance to breathe, eat food and take daily care. A team of doctors from AIIMS went to Harish Rana’s house and examined him, after which the report was presented in the Supreme Court. It was told in the report that Harish is breathing through a tracheostomy tube and food is being given to him through a gastrostomy tube.
Before the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court had rejected the petition of Harish’s family and said that active euthanasia is not allowed under Indian law. After this, in August 2024, the matter reached the Supreme Court, where a notice was issued to the Central Government asking it to find a humane solution.
