​On April 24, 2025, the Karnataka High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s directions on advance medical directives, commonly known as “living wills.” The court’s decision followed the Karnataka government’s proactive steps to implement the Supreme Court’s guidelines.​

The PIL was filed by Advocate Shiv Kumar, seeking the appointment of a competent officer at the local government level to collect, maintain, and preserve copies of advance medical directives, as well as the formulation of necessary rules and regulations to facilitate their effective implementation. In response, the Karnataka government submitted a memo detailing the actions taken to comply with the Supreme Court’s directions. The court noted that the petitioner expressed satisfaction with these measures, leading to the disposal of the petition. Additionally, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was directed to carry out compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives within its jurisdiction.​

This development underscores the Karnataka government’s commitment to upholding the right to die with dignity, as recognized by the Supreme Court. The state’s proactive approach ensures that individuals have the autonomy to make decisions about their medical treatment in accordance with their wishes, even when they are incapacitated.​

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