Don’t play God, say religious leaders

Religious leaders called upon the state to protect life under all circumstances, after the SC verdict.

Religious leaders called upon the state to protect life under all circumstances, after the SC verdict.

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Hindu, Muslim and Christian leaders alike said the Supreme Court, in legalising any form of life-taking practice, was railing against a key universal religious principle that binds millions.

Church leaders echoed the Vatican’s strong pro-life stand. “No one has the right to pull the plug on a patient on life support system,” John Dayal, secretary general of All-India Christian Council, said.

Islam deems life as “God’s property”, vice-rector AK Madrasi of Darul Uloom — the seat of Sunni Islam in India — said. Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshjhanand Devtirath, chief of Govardhan Mutt, one of the four sacred seats of Hinduism, called euthanasia as “against Hinduism’s norms”.

According to renowned Vedic scholar Pandit N.K. Sharma, though the concept of ichcha mrityu (intentional death) exists in Hinduism, it was the sole preserve of hermits who sometimes "spiritually embrace death” by shunning food and water.