The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea for mercy killing on behalf of a 60-year-old nurse, Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug. The nurse has been living in a vegetative state for the last 37 years in a Mumbai hospital after a brutal sexual assault. A bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra dismissed the plea filed on behalf of KEM hospital nurse, saying that while active euthanasia was illegal, yet passive euthanasia can be permissible in exceptional circumstances. The apex court said that as per the facts and circumstances of Aruna's case, medical evidence and other material suggest that the victim need not be subjected to euthanasia. The bench, however, said since there is no law presently in the country on euthanasia, mercy killing of terminally ill patient under passive euthanasia doctrine can be resorted to in exceptional cases. The bench clarified that until Parliament enacts a law, its judgment on active and passive euthanasia will be in force.