New Delhi: The Supreme Court will take a final call on a father’s plea, for passive euthanasia for his 32-year-old son, on January 13. The Court had earlier asked a team from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to report on the health condition of the young man, who has been in a vegetative state for the past 13 years.
On Thursday, the Court said that the AIIMS secondary medical board had submitted a “very sad” report on the health of Harish Rana, adding that it will take a final call, while observing that the man cannot be kept in such a condition indefinitely.
The Court will meet Harish’s family before taking any further decision and directed that the parents appear in court on January 13, when it will take up the matter next, the bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice K V Viswanathan said.
“We have reached a stage wherein we will have to take a final call,” Justice Pardiwala said, adding that the “thorough assistance” of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati and Rashmi Nandakumar, the petitioner’s advocate, will be required.
“We will ask the registry to provide you with one copy of the report. Study the report. It’s a very sad report, and it will be a big challenge for us also, but we can’t keep the boy like this for all time to come,” Justice Pardiwala further said.
Harish, a student of Punjab University, suffered head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation in 2013. Since then, he has been completely bedridden and on an artificial support system, as per The Indian Express.
A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, in 2018, had recognised passive euthanasia and laid down conditions and safeguards regarding the execution of such a living will. In January 2023, the court modified the order to make it more workable and less stringent.
Harish’s father, Ashok Rana, had approached the court citing the judgment and prayed that his son’s medical facilities be allowed to be withdrawn. The Supreme Court had on November 26 asked the Noida District Hospital to constitute a primary medical board to examine Harish.
On the last date of hearing, the bench, which perused the letter of the medical experts who examined Harish in pursuance of the November 26 order, said it indicates that he “is in a pathetic condition…” and “the team of doctors are of the opinion that the chance of his recovery from the present state is negligible”.
Accordingly, as required by the judgment, the bench directed the setting up of a secondary medical board to examine Harish.
On Thursday, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the bench that the report has been submitted. She also said that consultation with the family would be needed before the court takes a final decision. The court agreed to this.
“In pursuance of our last order dated December 11, a secondary medical board was constituted by the AIIMS, New Delhi. The team of doctors medically examined the patient, and a report has been forwarded on December 16, 2025. The report consists of the medical history, general examination, neurological examination and other observations made and diagnostic criteria,” the Court said after going through the report.
“We direct the Registry to provide each copy to Ms Rashmi and Ms Aishwarya Bhati, learned ASG. We request them to look into the report and study the same, and assist us in the report. We request them to jointly speak to the parents and other family members of Harish Rana and give us a report in that regard,” the Court added.
Observing that they would like to personally speak to Harish’s parents, the bench said: “For this purpose, we request them to personally remain present before us on January 13 at 3 pm in the Committee room. We request both counsels to keep their submissions in writing so that we can proceed with the passing of the final order. Let a copy of the primary board also be furnished to the counsels.”
