The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Maharashtra state government to inform the decision made by the state mental health department and the steps taken by the government to implement the Mental Health Act 2017.
Bench said it would need to confirm the agency’s decision before issuing an order in PIL to implement the law.
Subcommittee of Judges NM Jamdar and Gauri V Godse Calls for Implementation of Mental Health Act 2017 and Investigation of Psychiatric Facilities Not Regularly Evaluating Patients to See if They Can Be Discharged I was listening to PIL.
The PIL, submitted by psychiatrist Dr. Harish Shetty, highlighted the plight of institutionalized patients. Among them was a woman who had “suffered” for 12 years at a local mental hospital in Thein.
PIL, argued by advocate Pranati Mehra, said implementation of the law would protect the rights of people with mental illness and allow them to run review boards and seek discharge. , also called for the implementation of Supreme Court guidelines on mental health facilities and mentally ill patients.
On Friday, legal officer Ashutosh Kumbakoni and government aide Manish Pabale, who represent state governments, announced the new appointments while the three-year term of the members of the authority, which was composed as of October 2018, was completed. Notified the bench that the process of nominating members has been carried out. Such members will be appointed pursuant to a government resolution (GR) issued on 6 September, the government said, adding that the committee functions as a quorum.
However, the posts of two designated informal members, including a representative of the mentally ill and their caregiver, have not yet been filled, and an advertisement has been issued to that effect.
The state government said the state public health department had accepted Shetty’s proposal. With the help of NGOs.
The court will hear the next PIL on Friday, December 2nd.
