W.P(C) No. 334 OF 2001
ITEM No.301    Court No. 7    SECTION PIL
AT 10.25 AM   A/N MATTER

S U P R E M E   C O U R T   O F   I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Writ Petition (Civil) No.334/2001
 "IN RE: DEATH OF 25 CHAINED INMATES IN ASYLUM FIRE IN TAMIL NADU"
(with Office Report)
 WITH  WP (C) No.562/2001

(with Office Report)

UPON hearing counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R

Certain  directions are issued to the State  Governments, Union  Territories, Chief Secretaries/Administrator/Commissioners and  Health  Secretary,  Union of India in terms  of  the  signed order.

It is also ordered that if any suggestions are to be made by  any interested parties, the same may be submitted through Mr. Pranab Kumar Mullick, Advocate (Amicus Curiae).

List on 23-7-2002.

Signed order is placed on the file
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.334 OF 2001

"IN RE:  DEATH OF 25 CHAINED INMATES IN ASYLUM FIRE IN TAMIL NADU"

WITH

WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.562 OF 2001

SAARTHAK REGISTERED SOCIETY & ANR.   ....Petitioner(s)

VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA & ORS.   ....Respondent(s)

------ O R D E R ------

We have heard learned Additional Solicitor General Mr. Altaf Ahmed and counsel for the parties.

In continuation of our order dated 5th February, 2002 and considering  various  provisions of the Mental Health Act,  1987, particularly  Section  5 which inter alia provides  that  Central Government  may  in  any part of India or  State  Government  may within  the  limits  of its jurisdiction  establish  or  maintain psychiatric  hospital  or  psychiatric   nursing  homes  for  the admission,  treatment  and care of mentally ill persons  at  such places as it thinks fit, it is directed as under:

1. Every  State  and Union Territory (UT) shall undertake  a comprehensive  Need Assessment survey and file the Report thereof on the following aspects:

- 2 -

(a) Estimated   availability   of   Mental  Health   Resource personnel  in the State, including psychiatrists,  psychologists, psychiatric  social  workers and psychiatric nurses in  both  the public and private (licensed) sector;

(b) Type  of  Mental Health Delivery System available in  the State, including the available bed strength, outpatient services and rehabilitation  services in the public and private (licensed) sector;

(c) An estimate  of  the Mental Health  Services  (including Personnel and facilities) that would be required having regard to the population of the State and the incidence of mental illness.

2. The Chief Secretary of each State and Administrator/Commissioner of every UT shall file an Affidavit Stating clearly:

i) Whether any minimum standards have been prescribed for Licensing of Mental Health Institutions in the State/UT and in case  such  minimum standards have been prescribed, full  details thereof;

ii) Whether each  of the existing registered  Mental  Health Institutions in  the  State/UT, whether private or  run  by  the State,  meet  such  minimum prescribed standards as  on  date  of

- 3 -

passing  this  order  and if not, what steps have been  taken  to ensure  compliance  of licensing conditions and/or withdrawal  of the license.

iii) How many unregistered bodies, by whatsoever name called, purporting  to offer psychiatric/mental health care exist in  the State on date of this order and whether any of them comply with Minimum  standards  and are entitled to grant of licence  and  if not, whether steps have been taken to close down the same;

iv) Whether any mentally challenged person has been found to be chained in any part of the State/UT;

v) Conclusions  on  the basis of the Need Assessment  Survey undertaken in terms of direction (1) above.

It  is  made clear that each affidavit must  specifically and comprehensively deal with each of the queries set out above.

3. The Report of Need Assessment Survey and Affidavit as set out  in  Directions (1) and (2) above shall be submitted  to  the Health Secretary, Union of India so as to reach him latest by Ist July,  2002.   The  Health  Secretary,   Union  of  India   shall thereafter  compile  and  collate the information  as  above  and present  the same in the form of a self-explanatory Note/chart to this  Court along with his conclusions.  The Affidavits filed  by

- 4 -

the  States/UTs  shall be annexed to the Note/chart.  The  Health Secretary,  Union of India shall file the said Note/chart in this Court  by 15th July, 2002.

It  is further directed that the Chief Secretaries of all States  and  Commissioners  of  all UTs who  fail  to  file  such Affidavit  with the Health Secretary, Union of India by Ist July, 2002  shall have to personally remain present on the next date of hearing and explain the default.

4. Further Union of India is directed -

a) To frame a Policy and initiate steps for establishment of at  least  one Central Government run Mental Health  Hospital  in each State (As provided under Section 5 of the Act);

b) To  examine the feasibility of formulating uniform  rules regarding  standard   of  services for both  public  and  private sector Mental Health Institutes;

c) To  constitute a committee to give recommendations on the issue  of  care  of  mentally  challenged  persons  who  have  no immediate relatives or who have been abandoned by relatives;

d) To  frame norms for Non-Government Organisations  working in  the  field of Mental Health and to ensure that  the  services

- 5 -

rendered by them are supervised by qualified/ trained persons.

5. All  State Governments are also directed to frame  Policy and  initiate  steps  for  establishment of at  least  one  State Government  run  Mental  Health Hospital in each  State.   It  is clarified  that a Mental Health Hospital as stated above means  a full-fledged  Hospital  catering  only   to  mentally  challenged persons  and  does not include a separate psychiatric ward  in  a Medical college or Government Hospital.

6. LEGAL AID
Under  Section  43  of  the Mental Health  Act  (MHA),  a patient  is  required to apply to the Magistrate in order  to  be discharged.   The  procedure  prescribed under  the  Section,  on occasions  causes  difficulties to the patients inasmuch as  many patients  may  not  be  in  a  position  to  make  the  requisite applications  before  a  Magistrate, nor would they be  aware  of their rights, and the procedure to seek discharge.

Hence  it is directed  that two members of the Legal  Aid Board  of  each State be appointed to make monthly visit to  such Institutions, so as to assist the patients and their relatives in applying  for discharge from the Institutions if they have  fully recovered, and do not require institutional assistance any longer or  to find out whether as a matter of fact they require any such  treatment as indoor patients.

- 6 -

7. RIGHTS
1. INFORMING PATIENTS OF THEIR RIGHTS
Patients  and  their guardians shall be  explained  their rights  by  a team of 2 members of the Legal Aid and  a  Judicial Officer,  under  the  Mental Health Act, in a language  known  to them, at the time of the admission to any Institute.  They should    also  be informed whom to approach in case their rights are being infringed.

2. INSPECTION BY THE BOARD OF VISITORS
Section 37 provides for inspection of psychiatric hospital and psychiatirc nursing home. In view of the said Section a Board of Visitors must be formed by the State  Mental Health Authority in every State within a time bound period, and a compliance  report be filed to this Court. The Board of Visitors shall be required to visit every State or Private Institution for the  time being at least once every month. The membership of the Board of Visitors is contained in Section 37 of the Mental Health Act, 1987, which includes:-

a) Note less than 5 members
b) At least one Psychiatrist
c) Two Social Workers preferably with knowledge of the issues in the hospital and may be from the NGO Sector.

- 7 -

d) Head  of Medical Services or their nominees (preferably a Psychiatrist)  as  ex-officio  member  of  Board  of Visitors  in the State;

The Board of Visitors should also include:-
1. The  Additional  District  Judge, and/or  Chief  Judicial Magistrate,  and/or  the President of the Bar Association of  the Area;

2. State Disability Commissioner or his/her nominee.

A monthly record of visits of the Board of Visitors and a quarterly  report  should be filed with the State  Mental  Health Authority.

Further  it has been suggested by the learned counsel for the  parties that appropriate norms be prescribed for maintenance of   Mental   Hospitals  and   institutions  for  which   various suggestions  are made by the learned counsel for the parties  but are  not  discussed  at  present  as  it  is  for  the  concerned authorities to first frame such norms.

8. A Scheme may be envisaged for re-habilitation process for those  who  are not having any backing or lack of support in  the community.  The Scheme may be on the basis of Quarter-way  homes

- 8 -

(Supported Shared Home Like Accommodation) for all patients ready to  be discharged, but are not being discharged due to family not taking  them back, or lack of support in the community, should be placed  in  a  home like accommodation created  on  the  hospital campus  itself. This accommodation could be an  existing  ward   converted  to  have a home like environment, with patients  being taught housekeeping skills, cooking, shopping and also encouraged to take up responsibilities in the hospital for which they should be  paid for and then gradually encouraged to go to the community for work.

Learned Amicus Curiae Dr. Singhvi rightly submitted that if any suggestions are made by any interested parties, the  same may  be submitted through the Mr. Pranab Kumar Mullick, Advocate (Amicus Curiae) and we order accordingly.

(M.B. SHAH)

(BISHESHWAR PRASAD SINGH)

(H.K. SEMA)

New Delhi,
April 12, 2002.