Patna: Irritated by the “continuous lethargy” in the implementation of the mental health care law2017, the patna The high court on Friday gave the state government a “last chance” to file its response within four days on providing all benefits under the Act to patients and their families, otherwise the court would not hesitate to order the personal appearance of the boss. secretary and additional chief secretary (health).
A division bench of the Chief Justice sanjay karol and Judge S Kumar was hearing a PIL submitted by one Akanksha Malviya for the implementation of all mandatory and beneficial provisions of the Act, which provides for the mandatory establishment of a state mental health authority to monitor and regulate all institutions providing medical assistance, care, treatment and advice to patients with mental health disorders, as well as raising awareness of the rights of such patients among people.
The division bank commented, “It is sad to see that the state of Bihar, even after more than 4.5 years of the enactment of the Mental Health Care Act, has not taken proper measures in line with the intention from Parliament. Bihar has only one psychiatric hospital (in Koilwar) and even for that not enough details have been provided to the court. Only after a person approaches this court does the action begin, albeit with continued lethargy.”
The petitioner, who appeared in person, cited the example of Kerala, where the largest budget allocation (1.16% of the total health budget) went to mental health treatment centres. In Kerela, at least one psychiatrist for every lakh population and one clinical psychologist for every 60,000 people have been provided. The concentration of psychiatric counselors helps control depression and suicidal tendencies, especially among young people. In Kerala schools, children are diagnosed with mental illnesses to help them combat mental illnesses in a safe and friendly environment, the petitioner stated.
Appreciating the efforts of the petitioner, the court also sent a series of instructions to the state government to provide updated information on the prevalence of any mechanism, by which a person invokes the right to treatment for his mental illness and whether any online registration system , as provided in the Act, has been established and maintained in Bihar.
The court also asked about the measures adopted to guarantee the right to protection of the mentally ill against cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
The state government has also been ordered to provide detailed reasons as to why the timeframe under the Mental Health Care Act for the establishment of the Mental Health Authority (nine months) has not been met.
In addition, the high court also requested information on the steps taken to inspect and investigate mental health facilities in the state, the details of which must be presented on the next date. The division’s bench also requested details on the training of police officers, who, according to said law, must be made aware of their duties of sober handling of people with mental illness. Likewise, the high court requested a report from the State Government on the number and current conditions of ‘inmates with mental illness’ on whom the Law also provides beneficial provisions.
The court ordered the state and central government to specify whether there is a need for more facilities, such as the Koilwar psychiatric hospital, as Bihar has nearly a tenth of the country’s population. This matter will be known on April 7.
A division bench of the Chief Justice sanjay karol and Judge S Kumar was hearing a PIL submitted by one Akanksha Malviya for the implementation of all mandatory and beneficial provisions of the Act, which provides for the mandatory establishment of a state mental health authority to monitor and regulate all institutions providing medical assistance, care, treatment and advice to patients with mental health disorders, as well as raising awareness of the rights of such patients among people.
The division bank commented, “It is sad to see that the state of Bihar, even after more than 4.5 years of the enactment of the Mental Health Care Act, has not taken proper measures in line with the intention from Parliament. Bihar has only one psychiatric hospital (in Koilwar) and even for that not enough details have been provided to the court. Only after a person approaches this court does the action begin, albeit with continued lethargy.”
The petitioner, who appeared in person, cited the example of Kerala, where the largest budget allocation (1.16% of the total health budget) went to mental health treatment centres. In Kerela, at least one psychiatrist for every lakh population and one clinical psychologist for every 60,000 people have been provided. The concentration of psychiatric counselors helps control depression and suicidal tendencies, especially among young people. In Kerala schools, children are diagnosed with mental illnesses to help them combat mental illnesses in a safe and friendly environment, the petitioner stated.
Appreciating the efforts of the petitioner, the court also sent a series of instructions to the state government to provide updated information on the prevalence of any mechanism, by which a person invokes the right to treatment for his mental illness and whether any online registration system , as provided in the Act, has been established and maintained in Bihar.
The court also asked about the measures adopted to guarantee the right to protection of the mentally ill against cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
The state government has also been ordered to provide detailed reasons as to why the timeframe under the Mental Health Care Act for the establishment of the Mental Health Authority (nine months) has not been met.
In addition, the high court also requested information on the steps taken to inspect and investigate mental health facilities in the state, the details of which must be presented on the next date. The division’s bench also requested details on the training of police officers, who, according to said law, must be made aware of their duties of sober handling of people with mental illness. Likewise, the high court requested a report from the State Government on the number and current conditions of ‘inmates with mental illness’ on whom the Law also provides beneficial provisions.
The court ordered the state and central government to specify whether there is a need for more facilities, such as the Koilwar psychiatric hospital, as Bihar has nearly a tenth of the country’s population. This matter will be known on April 7.
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