After Kerala High Court nudge, State renames mental health institutions as Happiness and Wellness Centres

The Kerala government told the High Court on Tuesday that the State has issued a notification renaming State-run mental health centres as 'Happiness and Wellness Centres.' [The High Court Legal Aid Committee v The State of Kerala]

A bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Basant Balaji was informed by Advocate General Jaju Babu that a notification to that effect was issued on September 7.

"The learned Advocate General Jaju Babu informs us that the notification renaming the Centres as ‘Happiness and Wellness Centres’ has already been issued and handed over. We see that the notification mentioned by the learned Advocate General has placed on record the notification no [so and so], dated 07.09.2026, and the same has been placed on record along with the memo dated 08.09.2026," the Court recorded.

The development came about after the Court had earlier raised concerns over the stigma associated with mental health institutions.

The proceedings arose from a petition initiated by the High Court Legal Aid Committee concerning conditions at such centres in the State.

During the hearing, the Senior Counsel appearing for the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) said that the organisations wanted to raise certain objections to the new name before the government.

The Court permitted the IMA and IPS to submit their suggestions to the Principal Secretary of the Health Department on or before September 14.

"The said authority or such other competent authority as may be found fit by the government will hear the representatives of both these entities or any other doctor who may be interested, at 11 AM on 16.09.2026. For report of deliberations 22.09.2026."

The Court has also granted one more week's time to the Advocate General to get instructions on whether the government is addressing the issues relating to shortage of staff, security of the perimeter, uninterrupted, availability of medicines and provision of vehicles, at the centres.

Senior Counsel VV Ashokan instructed by advocate Litto Palathinkal appeared for the IMA and IPS.

Advocate V Ramkumar Nambiar served as the amicus curiae.