KATHMANDU, July 9

Two advocates on Thursday filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court, demanding constitutional and legal right to die.

Advocates Uttam Prasad Rijal and Tankahari Dahal filed the petition, arguing that people who are in a state of irreversible coma should be given the right to die.

The petitioners have named the Parliament, Constituent Assembly, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Law, Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs as defendants.

The petitioners have argued that ‘right to death is also a human right’. “Article 12 (1) of the Interim Constitution guarantees right to live a dignified life. This right also implies right to death,” the petitioners have said. “As right to speech includes right to remain silent and as freedom of movement includes right not to move, right to live a dignified life should also include right to die.” The petitioners have demanded constitutional and legal provisions to end the life of terminally sick people, and when they are not in a position to take decisions for themselves, their guardians, relatives and family should be given the right to end their life for them.