Kochi, Friday, January 6, 2012: Describing the state Mental Health Authority as a ”failure” and ”white elephant”, Kerala High Court had directed government to file an affidavit by January 16 regarding the number of inmates and and mode of functioning of the Mental Health centres in the state.

Justice Thothathil B Radhakrishnan issued the direction on suo motu proceedings and a petition filed by V Ramkumar Nambiar, amicus curiae appointed by the court in a pending case relating to the welfare of the mental health centres.

The state mental authority is a ”failure” and it is ”white elephant”, and Government was not taking action against unauthorised mental centres, the court held.

The judge also asked the government to explain the steps taken to stop such unauthorised mental health centres and expressed displeasure at not framing rules for the functioning of mental health centres.

The court urged the need for enacting set of rules for rehabilitation centres for mentally challenged persons. These centres can come under social welfare cover of the state, the court held.

Recently, 41 mentally ill persons had been rescued from an unauthorised mental health centre at Avanoor in Thrissur district.
The petitioner wanted the authority to apprise the court of the steps taken by it to prevent the functioning of unauthorised mental health centres in the state. The case has been posted to January 18.

(News agency)