SC notice to 6 states over cured persons languishing in mental hospitals

A Bench, comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice AM Khanwilkar, issued notices to UP, West Bengal Rajasthan, Kerala, J&K and Meghalaya on a PIL, seeking the release of the people, who are now fit for discharge from mental hospitals and steps to ensure their social security post-discharge.

Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who has filed the PIL in his personal capacity, said underprivileged people were still languishing in mental hospitals, despite being cured of their ailments and there was no policy in place to ensure their well-being after the release. The plea also referred to responses received under the RTI with regard to the release of persons, who are languishing in mental hospitals in UP’s Bareilly, Varanasi and Agra even after being cured.

The queries, which were posed under transparency law to Mental Health Hospital, Bareilly, Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra and Mental Hospital, Varanasi, pertained to names, residential address and age of the patients who are now normal and waiting for their discharge from hospitals.

Bansal had also sought information about the year, in which the patients were declared fit for the discharge. The plea has sought the issuance of directions to the states and others to “forthwith make arrangements to shift the patients, who are absolutely normal and are fit for discharge, from the mental hospitals to any other secure place like Old Age Home, etc.” 

“Issue appropriate Writ/Orders/Directions to the respondents to formulate effective and proper guidelines for the relief and rehabilitation of such normal female and male patients,” it said. Earlier, the Apex Court had refused to accord an urgent hearing to the plea during the summer vacation. In response to a query as to why the petitioner did not approach the High Court, Bansal said he approached the Apex Court as there were patients from six states who are normal and fit to be discharged.