HARISH SHETTY Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) On 21/4/2023, we had passed a detailed order. For the purpose of today's hearing, paragraphs 8, 9 and 10 of the said order are necessary to be noted. They read as under :-

(2.) We had stated that both, the State Mental Health Authority and the Maharashtra Legal Services Authority, would place before us a data regarding mental health patients, that is, the date of admission of the patient, length of stay and when the patient was last examined for fitness for discharge, opinion of the doctor in respect of discharge, status of the patient and the number of discharged patients sent home, but not accepted by family or returned back. The officials deputed by the State Mental Health Authority and the paralegal volunteers were directed to collect the data. This was so because a scheme framed by the National Legal Services Authority also contemplates measures to be taken for the benefit of those who are suffering from mental health issues.

(3.) The Maharashtra Legal Services Authority has placed a report on record dtd. 14/6/2023. The report refers to a state of patients, i.e., stay of patients and period in the hospital before they were reunited. Most of the data is from private hospitals. As regards the State Mental Health Authority is concerned, the learned Counsel for the Authority states that the data is collected, however it has to be structured analytically and seeks some time for that purpose.