Centre Passing The Buck By Not Deciding Issue Of 'Living Will': Supreme Court
NDTV
In it's 2018 order on on passive euthanasia, the Supreme Court recognised the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right.
The Supreme Court on Thursday said the Union government was abdicating its legislative responsibility and passing the buck by not taking a decision on "living will", an advance medical directive on end of life treatment.
The apex court's 2018 order on passive euthanasia wherein it recognised the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right and an aspect of Article 21 (right to life) notwithstanding, people wanting to get a "living will" registered have been facing problems due to cumbersome guidelines.
Observing that this is a matter where the chosen representatives of the country should debate, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice K M Joseph said the court lacks the requisite expertise and is dependent on the information provided by the parties.
"The areas which are meant for the Legislature to exercise its powers, by not exercising the power and by actually sort of agreeing to the issues, you are actually passing the buck. Ultimately you will say we didn't do anything, the court passed the order. You are abdicating your legislative responsibility.
