New Delhi: The Supreme Court today issued notice to states and Union Territories on a plea for legalising passive euthanasia by allowing a person in a vegetative condition to die by withdrawing life support, even the Centre strongly opposed the petition saying it is a form of suicide which cannot be allowed in the country.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha, which agreed to examine the issue, said that states must also be heard as the issue pertains not only to the Constitution, it involves morality, religion and medical science.