The Supreme Court today expressed horror after seeing pictures of inmates of a faith-based mental asylum seen tied up in chains..Justice AK Sikri asserted that these patients cannot be treated this way and termed this act “inhuman” and in violation of provisions of the recently passed Mental Healthcare Act as well as Article 21. Justice S Abdul Nazeer was also on the Bench that heard the PIL in this case..The petitioner placed pictures before the Court from a mental asylum in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh that show several patients tied up in chains. The petitioner, Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, submitting that this treatment violates the statutory provisions, sought effective enforcement of the Mental Healthcare Act..The Court, in agreement with the petitioner, observed that there needs to be an effective and proper implementation of the Act and expressed the inclination to pass an interim order in this regard..The Court pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government as well as the Centre over the issue with Justice Sikri stating that there may be instances of certain inmates getting violent on account of their condition but chaining inmates is a wrong approach..“There may be reasons like violence by the inmates but this (tying with chains) is no solution. There are other humane ways to deal with it.”.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing the Centre agreed with the Court and stated that there was no doubt that the act of chaining inmates is not a solution and goes against the Fundamental rights of the patients..The Court called this situation a “very serious” issue that has been raised and stated that the core of this PIL needs immediate attention..“This is not only inhuman but also goes against the provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act and the Fundamental Right to Life with Dignity under Article 21..Even if a person is suffering from a mental disease, he is still a human and his dignity cannot be compromised.”, the Court stated in its order..The Court has issued notice to the Centre and the State of Uttar Pradesh seeking their reply on the issue. The matter is likely to be taken up early next week..Image taken from here.
The Supreme Court today expressed horror after seeing pictures of inmates of a faith-based mental asylum seen tied up in chains..Justice AK Sikri asserted that these patients cannot be treated this way and termed this act “inhuman” and in violation of provisions of the recently passed Mental Healthcare Act as well as Article 21. Justice S Abdul Nazeer was also on the Bench that heard the PIL in this case..The petitioner placed pictures before the Court from a mental asylum in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh that show several patients tied up in chains. The petitioner, Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, submitting that this treatment violates the statutory provisions, sought effective enforcement of the Mental Healthcare Act..The Court, in agreement with the petitioner, observed that there needs to be an effective and proper implementation of the Act and expressed the inclination to pass an interim order in this regard..The Court pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government as well as the Centre over the issue with Justice Sikri stating that there may be instances of certain inmates getting violent on account of their condition but chaining inmates is a wrong approach..“There may be reasons like violence by the inmates but this (tying with chains) is no solution. There are other humane ways to deal with it.”.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing the Centre agreed with the Court and stated that there was no doubt that the act of chaining inmates is not a solution and goes against the Fundamental rights of the patients..The Court called this situation a “very serious” issue that has been raised and stated that the core of this PIL needs immediate attention..“This is not only inhuman but also goes against the provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act and the Fundamental Right to Life with Dignity under Article 21..Even if a person is suffering from a mental disease, he is still a human and his dignity cannot be compromised.”, the Court stated in its order..The Court has issued notice to the Centre and the State of Uttar Pradesh seeking their reply on the issue. The matter is likely to be taken up early next week..Image taken from here.
