Delhi High Court Allows 17-Year-Old to Donate Liver to Save Father's Life
The Delhi High Court has permitted a 17-year-old boy to donate a portion of his liver to his father, who suffers from advanced chronic liver disease. The court directed the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in Vasant Kunj to ensure all legal, ethical, and clinical protocols are followed to protect the minor's health.
Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order on a writ petition filed by the minor through his mother and natural guardian. The petition sought permission under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, and the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules, 2014, to donate part of his liver to his father, Uttam Kumar Shaw.
The court noted that while living organ donation by minors is generally prohibited, Rule 5(3)(g) of the 2014 Rules allows such donations in exceptional medical circumstances, subject to prior approval from the Appropriate Authority and the State Government. In this case, the Government of NCT of Delhi submitted a letter dated June 29, 2026, recording approval from the Lieutenant Governor and the Appropriate Authority.
The father, Uttam Kumar Shaw, suffers from chronic liver disease with cirrhosis, portal hypertension, mild ascites, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The court observed that a liver transplant was the only viable life-saving treatment. All other near relatives had been evaluated, but the minor son was found to be the only medically suitable donor.
The court also noted that the minor, aged about 17 years and six months, is physically fit and willing to donate voluntarily out of natural love and affection, without any commercial or coercive element. The ILBS hospital had been awaiting the court's order and will now schedule the surgery expeditiously.
Justice Pushkarna stated that denying permission could result in the loss of the father's life and that the balance of convenience overwhelmingly favoured allowing the transplant. The court exercised its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution and permitted the donation, subject to strict compliance with all statutory, ethical, and clinical safeguards.
