Online Portal For Real Time Information On Mental Health Facilities Of Districts To Be Functional Within A Month: Centre Tells Supreme Court

Additional Solicitor General, Ms. Madhavi Divan informed a Bench comprising the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice J.B. Pardiwala that on a previous occasion the Union Government had suggested that it would set up an online dashboard where all these facilities, capacities for half-way homes can be put up. The respective State, thereafter, would upload all the requisite information and it would be an automated process. Among other things, it would be incumbent upon every State to disclose a) what their current capacity is; b)what the level of occupancy is and c)what the other facilities are. The ASG submitted that the process is underway; tenders have been floated; and testing has already been done. She added that the dashboard would contain holistic information on mental health facilities including information on medical assistance, counselling facilities.

Ms. Divan further apprised the Bench -

"States are being invited for demonstrations within 15 days."

Accordingly, the Bench recorded -

"The Ld. ASG states that the Union Government has invited tenders for establishing a portal where real time information on mental health facilities provided right down to the district level in each State would be available. ….All the State Governments have been requested to attend a demonstration within a fortnight and it is expected that the portal would be ready and functional within a period of one month."

The matter has been directed to be listed at the end of January on a Friday. By the next date of listing, the Union Government has been asked to file an affidavit explaining the status of the portal and steps taken to upload information.

Previously, while hearing the petition, the Apex Court took into consideration the suggestion put forward by Ms. Divan, and directed all States and Union Territories to set up within 4 weeks an online dashboard containing information pertaining to the availability of mental healthcare institutions, facilities provided by such institutions, occupancy rates and region wise distribution of halfway homes in the States. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was directed to provide to the concerned States a format of such an online dashboard.

The Court further directed that half-way homes must be established by all States as expeditiously as possible within a period of 6 months. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was also directed to conduct meetings at least once a month with all States and Union Territories to track the progress of establishment of halfway homes and rehabilitation of mentally ill patients.

[Case Title: Gaurav Kumar Bansal v. Mr. Dinesh Kumar And Ors. Contempt Petition (c) No.1653/2018 in WP(C) No.412/2016]