The Hindu Editorial • March 17, 2026 • Read Original

Beginning and end: On the right to die with dignity

The state must allow its citizens the right to die with dignity

Scoreclever

Win Exams Cleverly

The Hindu Read Original

8 min read

Analysis of editorial from The Hindu newspaper on March 17, 2026

Beginning and end: On the right to die with dignity

The state must allow its citizens the right to die with dignity

Supreme CourtRight to die with dignityEuthanasiaLiving willArticle 21

Sentences

Sentence 1 of 17

English Original

The incontrovertible nature of both life and death makes them fiendishly difficult to legislate or adjudicate.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The nature of both life and death

The undeniable certainty of being born and ultimately dying

Part 2

makes

Causes to become

Part 3

them

Life and death

Part 4

difficult to or

Extremely hard to create laws about or make legal decisions on

Sentence 2 of 17

English Original

Interfering with the very elemental beginning and end points of life must seem daunting.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

with the very beginning and end points of life

Getting involved in or trying to control the basic natural processes of how life starts and finishes

Part 2

must seem

Surely looks or appears to be

Part 3

Very intimidating or difficult to deal with

Sentence 3 of 17

English Original

Nothing else can explain the long dalliance that laws have had with euthanasia to facilitate the intentional ending of a life, globally.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Nothing else

No other reason

Part 2

can explain

Is able to give a clear reason for

Part 3

the long that laws have had with

The long history of lawmakers across the world hesitantly engaging with the idea of mercy killing

Part 4

to the ending of a life, globally

To legally allow and make it easier to purposefully end a suffering person’s life worldwide

Sentence 4 of 17

English Original

In India, last week, the Supreme Court, in a landmark decision, approved the withdrawal of life support, including artificial nutrition and hydration, for Harish Rana, who went into a persistent vegetative state (PVS) following a head injury over 12 years ago.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

In India, last week

Recently in our country (providing time and place context)

Part 2

the Supreme Court

The highest judicial court in the country

Part 3

in a decision

Through a highly important and historic legal ruling

Part 4

approved

Gave official legal permission for

Part 5

the of life support, including

Removing medical machines and tubes that artificially feed and hydrate a patient to keep them alive

Part 6

for Harish Rana, who went into a a head injury over 12 years ago

For a patient named Harish Rana, who has been completely unresponsive and unaware for more than 12 years after a severe head injury

Sentence 5 of 17

English Original

Invoking the constitutional idea of dignity, the Court observed that it would not be compatible with temporarily keeping alive a terminally ill patient who is brain dead or in a PVS, only because it is possible to leverage technological advancements to do so.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

the idea of

Referring to the fundamental right to live with self-respect given by the Constitution

Part 2

the Court

The Supreme Court

Part 3

observed

Formally stated or remarked

Part 4

that it would not be with temporarily keeping alive a patient who is brain dead or in a PVS, only because it is possible to to do so

That forcing a painfully dying or completely vegetative person to stay alive just because we have medical machines to do it, goes strictly against their right to dignity

Sentence 6 of 17

English Original

This forces a life of indignity: patients endure a slow, agonising death.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

This

Using machines to forcefully keep a critically ill patient alive

Part 2

forces

Makes someone experience something against their will

Part 3

a life of

An existence lacking all respect, self-control, and comfort

Part 4

patients

The unwell individuals

Part 5

Go through or suffer something extremely difficult

Part 6

a slow, death

A delayed and severely painful dying process

Sentence 7 of 17

English Original

As the end of life approaches, a loss of control over human faculties denudes life of its meaning, it added.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

As the end of life approaches

When a person is coming very close to dying

Part 2

a loss of control over human

Losing the ability to physically and mentally function normally

Part 3

Completely strips away or removes

Part 4

life

A person’s living experience

Part 5

of its meaning

Of its true value, reason, and purpose

Part 6

The Supreme Court

Part 7

added

Further naturally stated in the judgement

Sentence 8 of 17

English Original

The Court went on to expand the right to live with dignity under Article 21 to encompass the right to die with dignity.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Court

The Supreme Court

Part 2

went on to expand

Proceeded further to broaden and widen the meaning of

Part 3

the right to live with under Article 21

The fundamental right given by the Indian Constitution that guarantees citizens to live a respectful and fulfilling life

Part 4

to the right to die with dignity

So that it also naturally includes the right to a respectful and peaceful death

Context and Background

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution

Article 21 is a fundamental right that states “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law”. Over the years, the Supreme Court has broadened its meaning to hold that “life” is not mere physical existence but the right to live with human dignity, which now logically includes having a dignified end to life.

Sentence 9 of 17

English Original

In India, in the absence of legislation on the subject, the courts have consistently had to engage with the euthanasia question over the years.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

In India

Within our country

Part 2

in the of on the subject

Because there are no proper laws made by the Parliament regarding this specific topic

Part 3

the courts

The legal system including the Supreme Court and High Courts

Part 4

have had to

Have been repeatedly forced to actively deal with and analyze

Part 5

the question

The difficult legal and moral issue of whether mercy killing should be allowed

Part 6

over the years

For a long period of time

Sentence 10 of 17

English Original

The Smt. Gian Kaur vs The State Of Punjab (1996) case might have set off the trend, but the debate entered the public realm with the Aruna Shanbaug petition in 2011.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Smt. Gian Kaur vs The State Of Punjab (1996) case

A notable Supreme Court legal case from 1996 regarding the right to die

Part 2

might have

Could have possibly started or triggered

Part 3

the trend

The general direction of legal conversations about mercy killing

Part 4

the debate

The widespread discussion and argument on this topic

Part 5

entered

Came into

Part 6

the public

The open society where common people talk about it, instead of just lawyers and judges

Part 7

with the Aruna Shanbaug in 2011

When a legal request was filed for Aruna Shanbaug (a nurse in a coma for 42 years) in 2011

Context and Background

Key Euthanasia Cases in India

In the 1996 Gian Kaur case, the Supreme Court ruled that the “right to life” under Article 21 does not include the “right to die”. However, the Aruna Shanbaug case in 2011 brought the issue to national attention. Aruna Shanbaug was a nurse who lived in a permanent vegetative state for 42 years following a brutal assault. While the court rejected the plea to end her life, it laid down India’s first broad guidelines allowing passive euthanasia (withdrawing life support) under strict conditions.

Sentence 11 of 17

English Original

The Court, in this instance, did not allow for euthanasia as the nurses caring for her demurred, but went on to lay down guidelines for withdrawing or the withholding of medical treatment or medical support to allow for natural death.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Court

The Supreme Court

Part 2

in this instance

In this specific legal situation (the Aruna Shanbaug case)

Part 3

did not allow for

Did not give official permission for

Part 4

euthanasia

Mercy killing

Part 5

as the nurses caring for her

Because the hospital nurses who had loved and taken care of Aruna naturally opposed the idea of letting her die

Part 6

went on to

Proceeded to properly formulate and establish

Part 7

guidelines for or the of medical treatment or medical support

Clear rules and procedures for stopping or not providing life-saving machines and medicines to a dying patient

Part 8

to allow for natural death

To purposely let the patient pass away naturally without medically forcing them to stay alive

Sentence 12 of 17

English Original

In 2018, a Supreme Court Constitution Bench held that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

In 2018

During the year 2018

Part 2

a Supreme Court

A large, special group of senior Supreme Court judges gathered to decide on an extremely important constitutional law

Part 3

held

Formally ruled or legally declared

Part 4

that the right to die with dignity is a

That choosing a respectful and peaceful death is a basic, guaranteed constitutional right for every citizen

Sentence 13 of 17

English Original

Besides benefitting Harish Rana in the instant case, the judgment will undoubtedly make it easy for terminally ill patients and their families ‘to let go’.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Besides benefitting Harish Rana in the

Apart from helping Harish Rana in this particular situation

Part 2

the judgment

This new legal decision by the Supreme Court

Part 3

will make

Will definitely and certainly create a legal situation that is

Part 4

The difficult action and process

Part 5

easy

Much smoother and less legally complicated

Part 6

for patients and their families ‘to ’

For dying patients and their loved ones to finally accept death and stop fighting a hopeless medical battle

Sentence 14 of 17

English Original

As technology advances in leaps and bounds, more life-preserving hacks will become available to all who are able to pay for them but could erode the patient’s dignity.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

As technology advances

Because medical capabilities and equipment are growing very quickly

Part 2

New medical machines and artificial methods designed to keep people physically alive

Part 3

will become

Will inevitably start to be

Part 4

available

Ready and easily accessible to be used

Part 5

to all who are able to pay for them

For any patient’s family who has enough money to afford these highly expensive treatments

Part 6

could

Might slowly destroy or take away

Part 7

the patient’s dignity

The unwell person’s fundamental right to self-worth, respect, and a peaceful natural state

Sentence 15 of 17

English Original

The judgment is intended to introduce compassion into end-of-life care for patients with unalterable medical conditions.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The judgment

This new and historic Supreme Court decision

Part 2

is intended to introduce

Has the main planned purpose of officially bringing in and adding

Part 3

Deep sympathy, pity, and a very strong desire to help those who are suffering

Part 4

into for patients with medical conditions

Into the medical treatment given to dying individuals who have severe diseases that can never be cured or fixed

Sentence 16 of 17

English Original

The concept of a living will, a legal document empowering individuals to state their preferences for medical treatment in situations where they become incapacitated, vegetative or are unable to communicate, again endorsed by the Court, must also be popularised.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The of a , a legal document individuals to state their preferences for medical treatment in situations where they become , or are unable to communicate, again by the Court

The idea of a formal document (strongly supported by judges) where a healthy person writes down exactly how they want to be medically treated if they ever fall into a coma or become completely unable to speak for themselves

Part 2

must also be

Needs to be made widely known and properly understood by the general public

Context and Background

What is a

A “Living Will” (also known formally as an Advance Medical Directive) is a legal document where a person clearly specifies what medical actions should or should not be taken in the future if they become too ill to make their own decisions. The Supreme Court of India officially gave legal recognition to living wills in 2018, allowing individuals to legally refuse artificial life support in advance, thus securing their ultimate right to die with full dignity.

Sentence 17 of 17

English Original

In the grey zones, it is the law that can give people the courage to take the right call.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

In the

In deeply confusing situations where it is extremely hard to figure out what is morally right or wrong

Part 2

The primary deciding factor

Part 3

Happens to be

Part 4

the law that can give people the to take the right

Proper legal rules that provide innocent families and doctors the much-needed bravery to logically make the correct, difficult decision

Sentence 1 of 17

Sentences Breakdown

Editorial Summary

5-Point Summary

1 Life and death are difficult to legislate, making laws around euthanasia complex globally.
2 The Supreme Court recently allowed the withdrawal of life support for a patient in a vegetative state, citing the right to dignity.
3 Forcing a terminally ill patient to stay alive using technology leads to an agonising death without dignity.
4 Past judgements have engaged with euthanasia, and the right to die with dignity has been recognised as a fundamental right under Article 21.
5 This compassionate judgement and the popularisation of living wills can help patients and families make tough end-of-life decisions.

Tone of the Editorial

sympathetic

Why this tone?

The editorial discusses end-of-life care with compassion, using phrases like “endure a slow, agonising death” and “introduce compassion”, while clearly supporting the Supreme Court’s ruling that allows patients to have a dignified death.

Sentence 1 of 17

The incontrovertible nature of both life and death makes them fiendishly difficult to legislate or adjudicate.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The incontrovertible nature of both life and death

The undeniable certainty of being born and ultimately dying

Part 2

makes

Causes to become

Part 3

them

Life and death

Part 4

fiendishly difficult to legislate or adjudicate

Extremely hard to create laws about or make legal decisions on

Sentence 2 of 17

Interfering with the very elemental beginning and end points of life must seem daunting.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Interfering with the very elemental beginning and end points of life

Getting involved in or trying to control the basic natural processes of how life starts and finishes

Part 2

must seem

Surely looks or appears to be

Part 3

daunting

Very intimidating or difficult to deal with

Sentence 3 of 17

Nothing else can explain the long dalliance that laws have had with euthanasia to facilitate the intentional ending of a life, globally.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Nothing else

No other reason

Part 2

can explain

Is able to give a clear reason for

Part 3

the long dalliance that laws have had with euthanasia

The long history of lawmakers across the world hesitantly engaging with the idea of mercy killing

Part 4

to facilitate the intentional ending of a life, globally

To legally allow and make it easier to purposefully end a suffering person’s life worldwide

Sentence 4 of 17

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

In India, last week

Recently in our country (providing time and place context)

Part 2

the Supreme Court

The highest judicial court in the country

Part 3

in a landmark decision

Through a highly important and historic legal ruling

Part 4

approved

Gave official legal permission for

Part 5

the withdrawal of life support, including artificial nutrition and hydration

Removing medical machines and tubes that artificially feed and hydrate a patient to keep them alive

Part 6

for Harish Rana, who went into a persistent vegetative state (PVS) following a head injury over 12 years ago

For a patient named Harish Rana, who has been completely unresponsive and unaware for more than 12 years after a severe head injury

Sentence 5 of 17

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Invoking the constitutional idea of dignity

Referring to the fundamental right to live with self-respect given by the Constitution

Part 2

the Court

The Supreme Court

Part 3

observed

Formally stated or remarked

Part 4

that it would not be compatible with temporarily keeping alive a terminally ill patient who is brain dead or in a PVS, only because it is possible to leverage technological advancements to do so

That forcing a painfully dying or completely vegetative person to stay alive just because we have medical machines to do it, goes strictly against their right to dignity

Sentence 6 of 17

This forces a life of indignity: patients endure a slow, agonising death.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

This

Using machines to forcefully keep a critically ill patient alive

Part 2

forces

Makes someone experience something against their will

Part 3

a life of indignity

An existence lacking all respect, self-control, and comfort

Part 4

patients

The unwell individuals

Part 5

endure

Go through or suffer something extremely difficult

Part 6

a slow, agonising death

A delayed and severely painful dying process

Sentence 7 of 17

As the end of life approaches, a loss of control over human faculties denudes life of its meaning, it added.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

As the end of life approaches

When a person is coming very close to dying

Part 2

a loss of control over human faculties

Losing the ability to physically and mentally function normally

Part 3

denudes

Completely strips away or removes

Part 4

life

A person’s living experience

Part 5

of its meaning

Of its true value, reason, and purpose

Part 6

The Supreme Court

Part 7

added

Further naturally stated in the judgement

Sentence 8 of 17

The Court went on to expand the right to live with dignity under Article 21 to encompass the right to die with dignity.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Court

The Supreme Court

Part 2

went on to expand

Proceeded further to broaden and widen the meaning of

Part 3

the right to live with dignity under Article 21

The fundamental right given by the Indian Constitution that guarantees citizens to live a respectful and fulfilling life

Part 4

to encompass the right to die with dignity

So that it also naturally includes the right to a respectful and peaceful death

Sentence 9 of 17

In India, in the absence of legislation on the subject, the courts have consistently had to engage with the euthanasia question over the years.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

In India

Within our country

Part 2

in the absence of legislation on the subject

Because there are no proper laws made by the Parliament regarding this specific topic

Part 3

the courts

The legal system including the Supreme Court and High Courts

Part 4

have consistently had to engage with

Have been repeatedly forced to actively deal with and analyze

Part 5

the euthanasia question

The difficult legal and moral issue of whether mercy killing should be allowed

Part 6

over the years

For a long period of time

Sentence 10 of 17

The Smt. Gian Kaur vs The State Of Punjab (1996) case might have set off the trend, but the debate entered the public realm with the Aruna Shanbaug petition in 2011.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Smt. Gian Kaur vs The State Of Punjab (1996) case

A notable Supreme Court legal case from 1996 regarding the right to die

Part 2

might have set off

Could have possibly started or triggered

Part 3

the trend

The general direction of legal conversations about mercy killing

Part 4

the debate

The widespread discussion and argument on this topic

Part 5

entered

Came into

Part 6

the public realm

The open society where common people talk about it, instead of just lawyers and judges

Part 7

with the Aruna Shanbaug petition in 2011

When a legal request was filed for Aruna Shanbaug (a nurse in a coma for 42 years) in 2011

Sentence 11 of 17

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Court

The Supreme Court

Part 2

in this instance

In this specific legal situation (the Aruna Shanbaug case)

Part 3

did not allow for

Did not give official permission for

Part 4

euthanasia

Mercy killing

Part 5

as the nurses caring for her demurred

Because the hospital nurses who had loved and taken care of Aruna naturally opposed the idea of letting her die

Part 6

went on to lay down

Proceeded to properly formulate and establish

Part 7

guidelines for withdrawing or the withholding of medical treatment or medical support

Clear rules and procedures for stopping or not providing life-saving machines and medicines to a dying patient

Part 8

to allow for natural death

To purposely let the patient pass away naturally without medically forcing them to stay alive

Sentence 12 of 17

In 2018, a Supreme Court Constitution Bench held that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

In 2018

During the year 2018

Part 2

a Supreme Court Constitution Bench

A large, special group of senior Supreme Court judges gathered to decide on an extremely important constitutional law

Part 3

held

Formally ruled or legally declared

Part 4

that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right

That choosing a respectful and peaceful death is a basic, guaranteed constitutional right for every citizen

Sentence 13 of 17

Besides benefitting Harish Rana in the instant case, the judgment will undoubtedly make it easy for terminally ill patients and their families ‘to let go’.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Besides benefitting Harish Rana in the instant case

Apart from helping Harish Rana in this particular situation

Part 2

the judgment

This new legal decision by the Supreme Court

Part 3

will undoubtedly make

Will definitely and certainly create a legal situation that is

Part 4

The difficult action and process

Part 5

easy

Much smoother and less legally complicated

Part 6

for terminally ill patients and their families ‘to let go’

For dying patients and their loved ones to finally accept death and stop fighting a hopeless medical battle

Sentence 14 of 17

As technology advances in leaps and bounds, more life-preserving hacks will become available to all who are able to pay for them but could erode the patient’s dignity.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

As technology advances in leaps and bounds

Because medical capabilities and equipment are growing very quickly

Part 2

more life-preserving hacks

New medical machines and artificial methods designed to keep people physically alive

Part 3

will become

Will inevitably start to be

Part 4

available

Ready and easily accessible to be used

Part 5

to all who are able to pay for them

For any patient’s family who has enough money to afford these highly expensive treatments

Part 6

could erode

Might slowly destroy or take away

Part 7

the patient’s dignity

The unwell person’s fundamental right to self-worth, respect, and a peaceful natural state

Sentence 15 of 17

The judgment is intended to introduce compassion into end-of-life care for patients with unalterable medical conditions.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The judgment

This new and historic Supreme Court decision

Part 2

is intended to introduce

Has the main planned purpose of officially bringing in and adding

Part 3

compassion

Deep sympathy, pity, and a very strong desire to help those who are suffering

Part 4

into end-of-life care for patients with unalterable medical conditions

Into the medical treatment given to dying individuals who have severe diseases that can never be cured or fixed

Sentence 16 of 17

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Part 2

must also be popularised

Needs to be made widely known and properly understood by the general public

Sentence 17 of 17

In the grey zones, it is the law that can give people the courage to take the right call.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

In the grey zones

In deeply confusing situations where it is extremely hard to figure out what is morally right or wrong

Part 2

The primary deciding factor

Part 3

Happens to be

Part 4

the law that can give people the courage to take the right call

Proper legal rules that provide innocent families and doctors the much-needed bravery to logically make the correct, difficult decision

Reading Comprehension

Practice questions based on this editorial

Reading Comprehension - Right to Die with Dignity

Practice reading comprehension questions based on the editorial about the right to die with dignity.

5 Questions Passing: 70%

Explore by Category

Editorial Categories

Politics and Governance 7 Economy 7 International Relations 2 Science and Technology 2 Environment 3 Society 0 Security 1 Infrastructure and Energy 2 Media and Communication 1 Miscellaneous 7

Vocabulary Feeds

Challenging Vocabulary 151 Idioms and Phrases 108 Phrasal Verbs 52

About Scoreclever

Your Complete Learning Ecosystem

Scoreclever helps you master Current Affairs, English Language, and General Awareness for all Banking, SSC, Railway, and Defence exams. The Scoreclever app has innovative learning techniques that make memorization and revision effortless.

Explore Scoreclever

Anything wrong in this content?

Give feedback

Request a feature?

Contact support

Looking to contribute?

Contact our team

Beginning and end: On the right to die with dignity

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension - Right to Die with Dignity

Explore by Category

Share this editorial

About Scoreclever

Anything wrong in this content?

Request a feature?

Looking to contribute?