Kerala High Court Asks District Judge To Inspect & Submit Report On Trivandrum Mental Health Centre After Reports Claim Inhuman Conditions

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday took notice of the concerns raised regarding the alleged alarming and inhuman condition of the patients in the Thiruvananthapuram Mental Health Centre. 

Justice Sathish Ninan has sought a report from the Thiruvananthapuram District Judge, who is also the Chairman of the Monitoring Committee of the Mental Health Centre in the district on the functioning of the said Centre. 

Based on a series of reports published by The New Indian Express, amicus curiae  Advocate V. Ramkumar Nambiar moved an application before the Court raising certain apprehensions regarding the functioning of the said Mental Health Centre. 

The reports had shed light on the alleged human rights abuses and Mental Health Act 2017 violations at the MHC in Thiruvananthapuram. The application stated the State was duty-bound to look after its subjects and ensure that proper treatment is given to them at the earliest, more so in case of mentally ill patients who can't fend for themselves without the help and care of others.

The following concerns were raised by the amicus:

1) Housing of in-patients in tin-roofed buildings exposing them to the scorching summer heat. 

2) Lack of proper ventilation in the cells/rooms at the hospital. 

3) Housing of patients beyond the accommodation capacity of cells/rooms resulting in overcrowding. 

4) Lack of proper hygiene within the cells/rooms. 

5) Patients are required to lie down/sleep on the bare floor and are not provided mattresses, pillows or sheets. 

6) Lack of necessary doctors and staff including cooks, attenders, etc.

7) Generally, the non constitution of Mental health review Board mandated under the mental health care Act, 2017. 

Special Government Pleader N. Manoj Kumar submitted that the Human Rights Commission had already initiated proceedings in which a report has been called for from the concerned authorities. He informed the Court that the allegations have been looked into and being dealt with. 

Meanwhile, the Health Minister convened a high-level meeting on Tuesday and appointed an expert committee to urgently look into the present condition of the three mental health centres in the State and submit a detailed report on the same.

The Senior Government Pleader specifically submitted that all appropriate steps will be taken immediately into the allegation regarding housing of patients in tin roofed buildings in this scorching summer. 

Nevertheless, the court asked the District Judge to conduct an inspection at the Centre and submit a report within 10 days. 

The matter will be taken up again on April 29.

Case Title: High Court Legal Aid Committee v. State of Kerala

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