EUTHANASIA IN INDIA-A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF ITS LEGAL AND ETHICAL DIMENSIONS

AUTHOR – DR RAJESH KUMAR VERMA* & BANDANA SINGH **

* ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (LAW) AT SCHOOL OF LEGAL STUDIES, BABU BANARASI DAS UNIVERSITY, LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH

** ADVOCATE AT LUCKNOW BENCH, HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD, LUCKNOW, U.P.

BEST CITATION – DR RAJESH KUMAR VERMA & BANDANA SINGH, EUTHANASIA IN INDIA-A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF ITS LEGAL AND ETHICAL DIMENSIONS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (1) OF 2025, PG. 828-835, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

Euthanasia, or “mercy killing,” is a contentious subject in India, entailing significant legal and ethical challenges. While passive euthanasia was legalized by the Supreme Court in Aruna Shanbaug v. Union of India (2011) and reaffirmed in Common Cause v. Union of India (2018), active euthanasia remains illegal. The ethical debate revolves around personal autonomy, the sanctity of life, and the risk of coercion. A comparative analysis with countries like the Netherlands and Canada highlights India’s restrictive approach. Challenges include legal ambiguities, inadequate palliative care, and socio-cultural opposition. Future prospects suggest the need for comprehensive legislation, stronger safeguards, improved healthcare infrastructure, and enhanced public awareness to ensure euthanasia laws uphold both dignity and ethical integrity.