New Delhi: Harish Rana, the first person in India granted passive euthanasia, was cremeated at the Green Park Cremation Ground in Delhi today. The 31-year-old
passed away at AIIMS Delhi on Tuesday after remaining in a coma for more than 13 years.
The Supreme Court had allowed withdrawal of life support, marking a historic moment in India’s legal and medical landscape.
13-year long coma
Rana had been in a vegetative state since 2013 following a fall from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation while he was a student at Panjab University. The accident caused severe brain injuries, leaving him dependent on life support. He required a tracheostomy tube for breathing and a gastrojejunostomy tube for nutrition.
Supreme Court landmark ruling
VIDEO | Delhi: Mortal remains of Harish Rana, the first person in India to be allowed passive euthanasia, brought to Green Park Cremation Ground for last rites. Rana passed away on Tuesday at AIIMS-Delhi after more than 13 years in a coma.
The 31-year-old, who has been in a coma… pic.twitter.com/3EtlSKszmt
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 25, 2026
As his condition showed no signs of improvement, his parents approached the court seeking permission for passive euthanasia. On March 11, the Supreme Court granted him the ‘right to die with dignity’.
“The medical report shows no improvement in 13 years,” the court said, adding that a doctor’s duty to treat a patient “no longer sustains when the patient has no hope of recovery.”
Medical treatment withdrawn at AIIMS
Rana was shifted from his Ghaziabad home to AIIMS on March 14. A specialised team of doctors oversaw the withdrawal of life support in a carefully planned manner to ensure dignity. The process began two days after admission and he died 11 days later at 4:10 pm.
In a remarkable gesture, his family chose to donate his vital tissues, including two corneas and heart valves.
Legal history of euthanasia
Passive euthanasia was legalised in India in 2011 in the Aruna Shanbaug case. While her plea was rejected at the time, the ruling laid the foundation for future cases. Rana’s case marks the first time the provision has been implemented.
