India, March 23 -- The Supreme Court of India, on March 11, 2026, passed a landmark judgment permitting passive euthanasia. A Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan directed that "the medical treatment, including Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) being administered to the applicant, shall be withdrawn/withheld." The Court also directed that such a process must be carried out humanely.

At the age of 20 years, while pursuing a B. Tech degree at Punjab University, the applicant Harish Rana met with an unfortunate accident after he fell from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation, suffering a diffuse axonal injury. Due to the severity of his condition, he was administered treatment in the form ...