Harish Rana, first person in India to be allowed passive euthanasia, dies at AIIMS Delhi

March 24, 2026

Harish Rana took his last breath on Tuesday at AIIMS Delhi. 31-year-old Harish had been in a coma for over 13 years. Today he took his last breath after the Apex Court on March 11 granted permission for passive euthanasia.

This marks the country’s first instance in which an individual has been granted euthanasia. Harish was shifted to AIIMS Delhi on March 14. On March 16, the AIIMS administration removed Harish Rana’s feeding tube and gradually all life-supporting equipments were removed from his body.

Harish was administered passive euthanasia at AIIMS. This entails discontinuing or withdrawing external life support or medical treatment being provided to keep a critically ill patient alive, thereby allowing the patient to die a natural death.

Supreme Court Delivered Verdict on March 11

The Supreme Court delivered its verdict in the euthanasia case on March 11. Following the judgment, his mother, Nirmala Devi, stated, “We made every possible effort to treat my son. We took him to major hospitals and consulted numerous doctors, but our hopes have all but faded. Now, my only prayer to God is that he finds swift relief from this suffering.”

What happened to Harish Rana?

Harish Rana, a former Panjab University student and a resident of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, suffered head injuries in 2013 after falling from the fourth floor of the building. Since then, he has remained unresponsive and confined to bed, totally dependent on feeding tubes for nutrition and hydration.

Although he is not on mechanical ventilation, he requires round-the-clock care and has shown no neurological improvement for over 10 years.

After years of treatment and therapy, his parents approached the Supreme Court looking for permission to withdraw life-supporting treatment, arguing that continued medical intervention served no beneficial purpose for him.

The verdict was pronounced to maintain the dignity of the patient, Harish Rana.