Bhubaneswar, March 11 -- In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has allowed passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, a 32-year-old man who has been in a coma since suffering severe brain injuries in a fall 13 years ago. The decision marks the first-ever case of court-ordered passive euthanasia in the country.

The verdict was delivered by a bench comprising JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, who also clarified several aspects of the court's 2018 judgment that recognised the legality of passive euthanasia in India.

The bench addressed a key legal issue in the case-whether clinically administered nutrition and hydration could be considered medical treatment. The court held that food and fluids supplied through medical tubes qualify as m...