On last day as CJI, Justice Chandrachud gave much-needed relief to parents of ailing son

During his last working day, Chandrachud reviewed a status report from the Centre, which outlined comprehensive care measures.

On his last working day as the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud provided much-needed relief to the parents of 30-year-old Harish Rana.

According to an India Today report, Chandrachud directed the Uttar Pradesh government to find out ways to cover the ongoing medical expenses for Rana's care since his parents were unable to take care of him.

The parents had petitioned the Supreme Court for permission to pursue passive euthanasia, requesting the right to withdraw his life-support. Passive euthanasia involves withdrawing artificial life support from a patient so they can receive a natural death.

The parents, Ashok Rana (62) and Nirmala Devi (55), had moved the top court after facing major financial hurdles in taking care of their son. Rana suffered traumatic head injury and quadriplegia after falling from a fourth-floor window while studying in Mohali.

During his last working day, Chandrachud reviewed a status report from the Centre, which outlined comprehensive care measures. According to the report, the Uttar Pradesh government has committed to providing home care, with a physiotherapist and dietician scheduled to visit regularly, along with an on-call medical officer and nursing support.

Additionally, all essential medications and medical supplies will be provided by the state at no cost. The CJI said that should home care prove unsuitable, arrangements will be made to transfer Rana to the district hospital in Noida for more structured medical support, according to India Today.

Advocate Manish, representing the parents, informed the Chandrachud-led bench that the family has accepted the government's care plan and will now take back its plea for passive euthanasia.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had ruled against active euthanasia, emphasising that Rana, while in a vegetative state, was not dependent on mechanical life support and could sustain himself without external devices.

In 2018, the SC said that though a person could refuse life-saving treatment, passive euthanasia would only be allowed when the patient or their kin chose to withdraw life-support measures.