Reviewing Article 21: The Constitutional Validity Of Euthanasia And The Right To Die With Dignity
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 27
- 1 min read
Arathi V P, LLB (Hons), Amity University, Madhya Pradesh
ABSTRACT
In Common Cause v. Union of India, the Indian Supreme Court acknowledged the validity of passive euthanasia and permitted the use of living wills or previous directives, therefore granting euthanasia limited legal support. But along the road, there have been significant legal, moral, and societal debates with strong arguments for and against its acceptance. A crucial topic in this debate is whether the right to die with dignity is included in the right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
Due to the absence of a comprehensive legislative framework, euthanasia regulations in India are mostly reliant on judicial decisions. This raises questions regarding how these restrictions are implemented and how they could be abused, particularly by underprivileged groups. This article examines the concept of euthanasia and contrasts India's legal system with that of other countries. It also evaluates the arguments for and against the practice in order to ascertain the legitimacy and possible future scope of euthanasia laws within the Indian legal system.
Keywords: Euthanasia, Right to Die with Dignity, Article 21, Passive Euthanasia, Living Will.
