The latest security audit report prepared by the Kozhikode City Police has suggested a total renovation of the existing facilities at the Kuthiravattom Government Mental Health Center. The report was prepared by a team of Assistant Commissioners on a High Court directive following recurring incidents of residents going missing from the premises.
Emphasizing the need to implement a master plan for the institution, the report said that the existing buildings were hardly fit to meet the treatment requirements of the residents. He reportedly suggested the demolition of many of the existing buildings and the construction of new facilities to meet quality standards in mental health care.
A senior police officer who was part of the inspection team said the report was submitted for consideration by the Kerala High Court on Friday. He added that further details of the field-level investigation report could not be disclosed at this time.
It was the recent death of a resident who ran away from the center that prompted the court to intervene. A previous incident in which a resident was allegedly strangled by other residents also prompted a serious review of existing facilities and surveillance measures at the facility.
According to police sources, former District Judge K. Ragini had also submitted a report to the Kerala High Court detailing security lapses and lack of facilities that she had noticed during a surprise inspection of the facility. The Kerala State Human Rights Commission also recommended immediately filling all vacant positions at the center, they said.
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