Right to Die with Dignity | Article 21 of Constitution

The Right to Die with Dignity allows a terminally ill person to refuse life-prolonging treatment and die peacefully.
It is recognized as part of the Right to Life under Article 21, emphasizing dignity even in death.

The landmark case Common Cause v. Union of India (2018) legalized passive euthanasia and upheld the validity of living wills under Article 21.

Active euthanasia involves deliberate action to end life and is illegal in India.
Passive euthanasia involves withholding medical treatment to allow natural death and is legally permitted under specific conditions.

A Living Will is a written document in which a person states their medical preferences if they become incapacitated.
It must be signed, witnessed, and approved by a Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC).

Passive euthanasia can only be carried out with the approval of a medical board and authorization from a Judicial Magistrate, as laid down in the Common Cause judgment.

It ensures that individuals are not forced to endure unbearable suffering against their will.
It upholds human dignity, autonomy, and compassion at the final stage of life, aligning with Article 21’s humane principles.

The Right to Be Forgotten allows individuals to request removal of personal data from the internet that is outdated, irrelevant, or no longer necessary, protecting their privacy and dignity under Article 21.

The Supreme Court in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) recognized the Right to Privacy as a Fundamental Right and mentioned the Right to Be Forgotten as part of informational privacy.

Yes. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 allows individuals to request erasure or correction of personal data once it is no longer needed for its original purpose.

The Right to Privacy protects individuals from data misuse, while the Right to Be Forgotten allows them to erase data already shared online when it serves no legitimate purpose.

Not always. The right does not apply to information of public importance, journalism, or court records.
Courts balance individual privacy against the public’s right to know before ordering removal.

Individuals can request online platforms or data fiduciaries to remove specific content.
If denied, they can appeal to the Data Protection Board of India or approach the High Court for enforcement.