1. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India raises an important issue of significant public interest though essentially grievance of the petitioner is private.

2. Petitioner is the wife whose husband Mr. Hariom Sharma is in a state of comatose, a vegetative state, with no signs or prospect of revival. Besides the husband, petitioner has two sons one of whom is a minor and a dependent mother-in-law to look after. With mounting medical bills and other household expenses and having hardly any income of her own, petitioner in a state of helplessness has turned to this Court invoking its writ jurisdiction for relief.

3. We have heard Ms. Kenny Thakkar, learned counsel for the petitioner; Mr. A.D. Yadav, learned counsel for respondent No. 1-Union of India; and Mr. S.S. Panchpor, learned Assistant Government Pleader for respondent No. 2-State of Maharashtra.

4. Facts lie within a narrow compass. However, for the sake of adjudication, the same are narrated hereunder.

5. Petitioner had married Mr. Hariom Sharma on 20.02.1999. Out of their wedlock, two children were born, namely, Yudhi Sharma on 27.02.2000 and Arjun Sharma on 19.01.2011. As would be evident, one of the sons i