*3- Feb-2012* *JAIPUR *: Taking a serious note of the non-implementation of Mental Health Act and the plight of mentally ill persons lying unattended and uncared for on roadsides and public places in the state, a division bench of Rajasthan High Court comprising Justice Dalip Singh and Justice S S Kothari has asked the director, medical & health department, chief medial and health officer, Jaipur, commissioner of police, Jaipur and chief judicial magistrate (secretary, District Legal Services Authority) to appear in person on Feburary 6 before the court.
The court was annoyed that a large number of mentally ill persons are left unattended on roadsides by their family members while the authority, despite being duty-bound under the law to safeguard their fundamental rights, do not care for them. "We have seen mentally ill persons lying unattended and uncared in public places. They have a fundamental right for a better life. The society owes a duty towards them and even the law is there to protect them. We cannot close our eyes to non-compliance of the Mental Health Act and the issue needs consideration," observed Justice Dalip Singh. The order came on a habeas corpus petition filed by one Gopal Mohan whose daughter Kamlesh went missing from her inlaws' house. Though she was traced by Jaipur police, on interrogation it was found that the woman was mentally sick and had left her house earlier also. When the police brought it to the notice of court that they were not sure what to do in such cases, the division bench took a serious note of the ignorance of law by the authority and issued direction to the officials to appear in person before the court. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/11733503.cms -- 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
