The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Centre on a petition seeking the right of a dying person to refuse life-support system to prolong his life.

The court asked the Centre whether the issue has been, or is being, examined by them.

The notices were issued on a public interest litigation filed by a non-governmental organization, Common Cause, which sought the right that bordered on euthanasia.

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It also requested the court to appoint a committee comprising eminent doctors and social scientists to study the issue and evolve a guideline in this regard.

The court was earlier reluctant to entertain the petition, saying it is a matter directly within the legislative domain of the government.

The court had noted that it was for the government to decide what kind of right to dignified death was possible in case of a person suffering from terminal diseases.