News Desk – The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will consider whether life-sustaining treatment should be stopped for 32-year-old Harish Rana, who has been in a vegetative state for the last 13 years. The court has reserved its order on the petition filed by his parents seeking passive euthanasia.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan called the matter a “very delicate issue”. The judges also met Harish’s parents before the hearing.
“This is a very sensitive matter. We are also human beings. Who are we to decide who should live or die? But we will consider the request to withdraw life-support treatment,” the court said.
The court heard detailed arguments from the lawyer representing Harish’s parents and from Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Centre.
Harish, who lived in Mahavir Enclave in Delhi, had gone to Chandigarh for college. On August 20, 2013, he fell from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation and suffered serious head injuries.
Since then, he has been completely disabled and has remained in a vegetative state, depending fully on life-support systems.
Now, after 13 years of suffering, the court will decide whether his medical treatment can be stopped.
