NHRC directs to all States and UTs to certify that no mentally ill patient is kept in chains
The National Human Rights Commission has directed to all States and Union Territories to certify that no mentally ill patients is kept in chains in any mental hospital/institution. A letter in this regard, written by the Secretary General of NHRC, Shri P.C. Sen, was sent to the chief Secretaries/ Administrators of all States/UTs.
The Commission had taken up this issue on the basis of a complaint from Prof. Dr. Nazneen of Shri Meenakshi Government College for Women, Madurai regarding the plight of mentally ill patients staying in Sultan Alayudeen Durgah, Goripalayam, Madurai (Tamil Nadu).
Taking cognizance of the matter, the Commission had constituted a committee to visit the Durgah and make specific recommendations for the management of such patients. The report submitted by the Committee was accepted by the Commission on 3 January 2001 and a copy of the report was sent on 15 January 2001 to the Government of Tamil Nadu for implementation. Reminders were sent on 10 May 2001 and again on 31 July 2001.
Inspite of it all, in a shocking incident, 28 inmates of Badhusha Private Mental Asylum in Erwadi of Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu loss their lives in a fire on 6 August 2001, due primarily to the fact that they were chained.
The Commission has been greatly disturbed by the incident and the failure of the State Government to prevent the mishap and, taking a serious view in this matter, has now decided to request all States and UTs to certify that no mentally ill patients were chained in captivity. This, the Commission felt, was essential to prevent recurrence of any such tragic incident in future. The Secretary General had addressed these letters to the Chief Secretaries of all the States and Chief Administrators of all the Union Territories requesting them to have the requisite report sent to the Commission by 31 January 2002.
The Commission, however, regrets that the response of the concerned authorities has not been very forthcoming. Replies have been received only from the States from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and from the UTs of Pondicherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. While Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the 3 UTs have reported that there were no mentally ill patients who were being kept in chains in their States/UTs, Tamil Nadu has stated that instructions have been issued to all the District Collectors to make an immediate inspection of all shelters for mentally ill to ensure that in future no shelter is allowed to function without getting license as per the Mental Health Act, 1987. The District Collectors of Tamil Nadu have also been directed that wherever mentally ill patients were found in chains, they should be unchained and suitable arrangements for their welfare should be made. The State Government have assured the Commission that a final report would be sent to the Commission after receiving information from all the District Collectors.
Meanwhile, the Commission on 6 February 2002 has sent reminders to all the States and Union Territories, which have failed to respond to the Commission’s directions.
The Commission had taken up this issue on the basis of a complaint from Prof. Dr. Nazneen of Shri Meenakshi Government College for Women, Madurai regarding the plight of mentally ill patients staying in Sultan Alayudeen Durgah, Goripalayam, Madurai (Tamil Nadu).
Taking cognizance of the matter, the Commission had constituted a committee to visit the Durgah and make specific recommendations for the management of such patients. The report submitted by the Committee was accepted by the Commission on 3 January 2001 and a copy of the report was sent on 15 January 2001 to the Government of Tamil Nadu for implementation. Reminders were sent on 10 May 2001 and again on 31 July 2001.
Inspite of it all, in a shocking incident, 28 inmates of Badhusha Private Mental Asylum in Erwadi of Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu loss their lives in a fire on 6 August 2001, due primarily to the fact that they were chained.
The Commission has been greatly disturbed by the incident and the failure of the State Government to prevent the mishap and, taking a serious view in this matter, has now decided to request all States and UTs to certify that no mentally ill patients were chained in captivity. This, the Commission felt, was essential to prevent recurrence of any such tragic incident in future. The Secretary General had addressed these letters to the Chief Secretaries of all the States and Chief Administrators of all the Union Territories requesting them to have the requisite report sent to the Commission by 31 January 2002.
The Commission, however, regrets that the response of the concerned authorities has not been very forthcoming. Replies have been received only from the States from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and from the UTs of Pondicherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. While Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the 3 UTs have reported that there were no mentally ill patients who were being kept in chains in their States/UTs, Tamil Nadu has stated that instructions have been issued to all the District Collectors to make an immediate inspection of all shelters for mentally ill to ensure that in future no shelter is allowed to function without getting license as per the Mental Health Act, 1987. The District Collectors of Tamil Nadu have also been directed that wherever mentally ill patients were found in chains, they should be unchained and suitable arrangements for their welfare should be made. The State Government have assured the Commission that a final report would be sent to the Commission after receiving information from all the District Collectors.
Meanwhile, the Commission on 6 February 2002 has sent reminders to all the States and Union Territories, which have failed to respond to the Commission’s directions.