*19 June 2011* *Vaibhav Ganjapure* * * *NAGPUR :* Passing through city streets, especially at traffic signals, you will witness beggars stopping by your vehicle. Hundreds of such destitute people, many of them mentally-challenged, are out on the road even during searing summers and cold winters. Though many shelter homes are made for them, their pathetic condition is well known.
Now, there's a ray of hope for them. A city lawyer, moved by their plight, has filed a PIL in the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, praying for directions to the Maharashtra government to initiate measures to take care and treat such persons. A division bench comprising justices Vijaya Tahilramani and ML Tahilyani issued show-cause notices to the respondents, including principal secretary of home department, director general of police (DGP), Nagpur police commissioner and medical officer at mental hospital. They were asked to file a reply before July 1. According to petitioner Raghvendra Joshi, who is well-known for pleading cases as a special public prosecutor related to Nagpur University's infamous fake mark-sheet and revaluation scam, he witnessed many such people aimlessly moving on roads while collecting trash and eating from dustbins in the city. He also cited former president APJ Abdul Kalam who advocated that no mentally ill or homeless person should be left uncared for on the streets in the country. Citing Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner said that fundamental rights of every citizen should be extended to such mentally-challenged people who are incapable of taking their own care. He had earlier dispatched a letter to Nagpur CP but no cognisance was taken. He had also reported many such homeless persons to the police stations at Dhantoli, Sitabuldi and Lakadganj. Pointing out provisions under the Mental Health Act 1987, Joshi said that the police are empowered to take such people into protection and produce them before the nearest judicial magistrate within 24 hours. The magistrate, in turn, would examine such people. If the magistrate finds the person to be mentally ill, he can give directions for their detention at psychiatric hospitals or psychiatric nursing homes. Producing photographs of many such people to prove his point, the lawyer demanded directions for setting up special cells in each police station. Police officials should be provided with monetary incentives for handling such persons. He insisted that traffic police should be asked to inform about such persons to the control room which in collaboration with nearest police station would start their rehabilitation process. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-19/nagpur/29676524_1_homeless-mentally-ill-people-mentally-challenged-traffic-police -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
