*20-JAN-2012* * * *M. RAJASEKHARA PANICKER*
*KOCHI *: Inordinate delay in formulating mental health rule is appalling, observes Kerala High Court. Justice Thottathil Ravindran commented this in response to an affidavit filed by Health Department Deputy Secretary, D. Sreekumaran Nair on behalf of the State Government in which he said the State Government had formulated mental health rule in 2002 and sent for Central Government approval and no reply has been received so far. He was hearing a writ petition in connection with the chaining of inmates in Avanur mental asylum. Forty-one patients, five of whom were found chained, were rescued and shifted to district medical health care centre. The judge directed the Centre and State Governments to file affidavit on the steps taken in this case. Since the rule is yet to take shape, the State Government has formulated guidelines for running mental asylums, the affidavit said. Of the total 160 applications received for mental asylums and care homes, 107 were scrutinised and only four were given permission. Only two have begun complying with the guidelines, the state government says. The court asked to submit the details of the activities of the State mental health authority in two weeks. Affidavit should include the minutes, persons attended, details of the visit to any mental asylum in three years. The rules and regulations are for upholding the human rights and dignity of the mental patients and those who seek treatment, the court reminded. http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/Delay-in-formulating-mental-health-rule-appalling/118/28860/ -- 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
