Latest news with #MentalHealthcareAct
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
HC flags lack of awareness on mental health legal aid, seeks early framing of rules
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed concern over the lack of awareness among judicial officers, police, and custodial institutions about their statutory duty to inform persons with mental illness of their right to free legal aid, as guaranteed under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. A bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry, hearing a public interest litigation filed by Pushpanjali Trust, noted that Section 27 of the 2017 Act makes it mandatory for magistrates, police officers, custodial authorities, and medical professionals incharge of mental health establishments to inform such persons about their entitlement to free legal services under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. 'It is also informed that no orientation programme for making judicial officers aware of this statutory duty is undertaken by the Chandigarh Judicial Academy or any other institution, including the legal aid institutions,' the court recorded. It directed its registry to inform the Chandigarh Judicial Academy, the State Legal Services Authorities of Punjab and Haryana, UT Chandigarh, and the High Court Legal Services Committee to take appropriate steps to address the gap. The court also impleaded the central government through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as a respondent in the case, directing service of notice to Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain. The ministry has been asked to file its reply within four weeks, specifically clarifying why a Medical Health Review Board has not been constituted under Section 73 of the Act for Chandigarh. During the hearing, counsel for the states of Punjab and Haryana informed the court that the process of framing rules under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, was underway, and sought four weeks to finalise and notify them. The bench granted time and posted the matter for further hearing on September 4. In compliance with an earlier order, the Punjab government assured the court that documentary proof of deposit of Rs 5,000 in costs would be filed before the next date. Managing trustee of the petitioner trust, Aditya Rametra, who appeared in person, had emphasised that failure to inform mentally ill persons of their legal rights amounted to denial of statutory protection.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
After yrs in limbo, panel on mental health to be set up
NEW DELHI: The city government has begun setting up a panel for the Delhi Mental Health Authority months after an order from the Delhi High Court. The government has advertised the appointment of 11 non-official members who will constitute the body. The advertised roles include one psychiatrist, one clinical psychologist, one psychiatric social worker, one mental health professional and one mental health nurse, positions deemed crucial to the formation of the authority functional under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. 'Once the authority is constituted, it would constitute review boards for cases and formation of guidelines,' a health official said. The authority is tasked with regulating mental health services in the national capital, monitoring treatment centres, registering establishments, and protecting the rights of persons with mental illness.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Rehabilitation of homeless with psychosocial disabilities sensitive issue: SC
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said the rehabilitation of homeless persons suffering from psychosocial disabilities was a sensitive issue and directed the Centre to take it up "very seriously". The Centre informed a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that authorities were already deliberating the matter with meetings being underway. The government counsel sought eight weeks' time to update the court on the progress achieved. "You need to take it very seriously and as less time as possible," the bench said. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal for directions to formulate and implement a policy for the homeless suffering from psychosocial disabilities. The top court had in April sought responses from the Centre and others on the plea. Psychosocial disabilities refers to the challenges people with mental health issues face due to discrimination, lack of support, among others. On Friday, after Bansal said the Centre had to file a counter affidavit in the matter, the bench noted a brief reply was on record. "We are already deliberating. Meetings are going on. I am praying for eight weeks time to place on record the progress so far," the Centre's counsel said. Bansal said the homeless were "literally becoming football" and the police ought to do something for their rehabilitation under the law. He said women were among several homeless persons and there was negativity from the police side in such cases, especially due to the lack of a proper rehabilitation programme. "We are expecting response of the government on all these issues. Let them come back and then we will monitor it. We will try and take it to a logical end," the bench said. When the Centre's counsel referred to the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, the bench observed, "Acts are there. Where is the execution, where is the compliance". The top court posted the matter on September 22. The plea has sought directions to frame and implement the standard operating procedures for key stakeholders, including departments of law enforcement (police department) and medical health, to ensure the humane and effective handling of homeless persons with psychosocial disabilities. The plea highlighted the issue faced by homeless persons with psychosocial disability who instead of being provided with appropriate care are often subjected to neglect, social isolation , and physical and sexual abuses. "Despite existing legal and policy frameworks, including the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and National Mental Health Policy, 2014, respondents have failed to operationalise the provisions intended to protect and assist homeless individuals suffering from mental illness," it added. The petitioner said the lack of a structured national policy on homelessness and mental illness has resulted in a "complete breakdown of the system, leaving thousands of individuals to fend for themselves" without access to medical care, shelter, or social entitlements. PTI
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Rehabilitation of homeless with psychosocial disabilities sensitive issue: SC
New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Friday said the rehabilitation of homeless persons suffering from psychosocial disabilities was a sensitive issue and directed the Centre to take it up "very seriously". Rehabilitation of homeless with psychosocial disabilities sensitive issue: SC The Centre informed a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that authorities were already deliberating the matter with meetings being underway. The government counsel sought eight weeks' time to update the court on the progress achieved. "You need to take it very seriously and as less time as possible," the bench said. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal for directions to formulate and implement a policy for the homeless suffering from psychosocial disabilities. The top court had in April sought responses from the Centre and others on the plea. Psychosocial disabilities refers to the challenges people with mental health issues face due to discrimination, lack of support, among others. On Friday, Bansal said the Centre had filed a counter affidavit in the matter. The bench noted a brief reply was on record. "We are already deliberating. Meetings are going on. I am praying for eight weeks time to place on record the progress so far," the Centre's counsel said. Bansal said the homeless were "literally becoming football" and the police ought to do something for their rehabilitation under the law. He said women were among several homeless persons and there was negativity from the police side in such cases, especially due to the lack of a proper rehabilitation programme. "We are expecting response of the government on all these issues. Let them come back and then we will monitor it. We will try and take it to a logical end," the bench said. When the Centre's counsel referred to the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, the bench observed, "Acts are there. Where is the execution, where is the compliance". The top court posted the matter on September 22. The plea has sought directions to frame and implement the standard operating procedures for key stakeholders, including departments of law enforcement and medical health, to ensure the humane and effective handling of homeless persons with psychosocial disabilities. The plea highlighted the issue faced by homeless persons with psychosocial disability who instead of being provided with appropriate care are often subjected to neglect, social isolation, and physical and sexual abuses. "Despite existing legal and policy frameworks, including the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and National Mental Health Policy, 2014, respondents have failed to operationalise the provisions intended to protect and assist homeless individuals suffering from mental illness," it added. The petitioner said the lack of a structured national policy on homelessness and mental illness has resulted in a "complete breakdown of the system, leaving thousands of individuals to fend for themselves" without access to medical care, shelter, or social entitlements. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Print
5 days ago
- Health
- The Print
Rehabilitation of homeless with psychosocial disabilities sensitive issue: SC
The government counsel sought eight weeks' time to update the court on the progress achieved. The Centre informed a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that authorities were already deliberating the matter with meetings being underway. New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday said the rehabilitation of homeless persons suffering from psychosocial disabilities was a sensitive issue and directed the Centre to take it up 'very seriously'. 'You need to take it very seriously and as less time as possible,' the bench said. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal for directions to formulate and implement a policy for the homeless suffering from psychosocial disabilities. The top court had in April sought responses from the Centre and others on the plea. Psychosocial disabilities refers to the challenges people with mental health issues face due to discrimination, lack of support, among others. On Friday, Bansal said the Centre had filed a counter affidavit in the matter. The bench noted a brief reply was on record. 'We are already deliberating. Meetings are going on. I am praying for eight weeks time to place on record the progress so far,' the Centre's counsel said. Bansal said the homeless were 'literally becoming football' and the police ought to do something for their rehabilitation under the law. He said women were among several homeless persons and there was negativity from the police side in such cases, especially due to the lack of a proper rehabilitation programme. 'We are expecting response of the government on all these issues. Let them come back and then we will monitor it. We will try and take it to a logical end,' the bench said. When the Centre's counsel referred to the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, the bench observed, 'Acts are there. Where is the execution, where is the compliance'. The top court posted the matter on September 22. The plea has sought directions to frame and implement the standard operating procedures for key stakeholders, including departments of law enforcement (police department) and medical health, to ensure the humane and effective handling of homeless persons with psychosocial disabilities. The plea highlighted the issue faced by homeless persons with psychosocial disability who instead of being provided with appropriate care are often subjected to neglect, social isolation, and physical and sexual abuses. 'Despite existing legal and policy frameworks, including the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and National Mental Health Policy, 2014, respondents have failed to operationalise the provisions intended to protect and assist homeless individuals suffering from mental illness,' it added. The petitioner said the lack of a structured national policy on homelessness and mental illness has resulted in a 'complete breakdown of the system, leaving thousands of individuals to fend for themselves' without access to medical care, shelter, or social entitlements. PTI ABA ABA AMK AMK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
