Harish Rana was a student of Panjab University when his life changed in 2013.
He fell from the fourth floor of a paying guest accommodation and suffered severe injuries. The accident caused a serious brain injury and left him dependent on life-sustaining medical support.
For the next 13 years, Rana remained confined to a bed.
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His Medical Condition
After the accident, Harish Rana was placed on life support.
He required a tracheostomy tube to help him breathe and a gastrojejunostomy tube for feeding.
Since the injury, he remained bedridden and dependent on others for daily care.
Doctors reported no meaningful improvement in his condition over the years.
Why The Case Reached The Courts
Rana’s parents later approached the courts seeking permission for passive euthanasia, which involves withdrawing life-sustaining treatment when recovery is medically impossible.
The case eventually reached the Supreme Court of India.
After reviewing medical evaluations and interacting with the family, the court allowed doctors to withdraw life support, concluding that prolonging his biological life would not be in his best interest.
How India’s Euthanasia Law Evolved
The debate around euthanasia in India has evolved through several landmark Supreme Court cases.
In Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab (1996), the Supreme Court held that the right to life under Article 21 does not include the right to die.
The issue resurfaced in Aruna Shanbaug v. Union of India (2011). Shanbaug, a nurse at Mumbai’s KEM Hospital, remained in a vegetative state for decades after a sexual assault. While the court refused euthanasia in her case, it recognised passive euthanasia under strict safeguards.
The law evolved further in Common Cause v. Union of India (2018), when a Constitution Bench ruled that the right to die with dignity is part of Article 21 and allowed living wills.
Harish Rana’s case shows how this legal framework is now being applied in practice.
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What Changed In Indian Law
The legal shift from Gian Kaur to Aruna Shanbaug to Harish Rana reflects three key developments in Indian constitutional law.
First, the right to die with dignity has been recognised as part of the right to life.
Second, courts have created procedures for withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, including medical board reviews.
Third, the law now recognises advance directives or living wills, allowing people to state their wishes about end-of-life care.
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