Constitutional Protection of Personal Liberty in the Digital Age: A Critical Analysis of Harish Rana v. Union of India

In the historic case of Harish Rana against Union of India, the Indian Supreme Court had extensively examined the issue of individual liberty, human dignity, and the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. This case comprised of a youth who, after having an accident, had become vegetative for more than 10 years. In dealing with difficult decisions regarding the end of life, the court held that the tube feeding could be stopped because it is a form of treatment and not a maintenance procedure. The judiciary protected human freedom from forced and inefficient treatment by allowing passive euthanasia as part of death with dignity.