Kerala High Court Mandates Comprehensive Safety Audit of State Mental Health Facilities
The Kerala High Court has issued a significant directive ordering the Director of Health Services, in coordination with other relevant officials, to conduct a thorough safety audit of all three government-run mental health care centers in the state. These facilities are located in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode.
Court's Specific Instructions and Deadline
The bench comprising Justices Devan Ramachandran and M B Snehalatha has mandated that the audit must specifically focus on the areas where patients requiring care are housed and protected. The detailed report from this safety assessment must be submitted to the court by March 3. This order was delivered during the hearing of a suo motu petition initiated by the court itself.
Triggering Incident: Escape and Stabbing in Thrissur
The court's intervention was prompted by a serious incident that occurred on Saturday, February 14. An inmate identified as Suraj, a native of Nepal, managed to escape from the Government Mental Health Centre in Thrissur during the early hours. Following his escape, Suraj allegedly attacked and stabbed three individuals in nearby areas. He was subsequently apprehended by local residents and handed over to the police.
Taking immediate note of this alarming event, the High Court had previously directed the appointed amicus curiae, who is involved in cases related to the mental health care sector, to file a preliminary report. After reviewing this report during Monday's hearing, the court expanded the scope of the petition by suo motu impleading several key officials as respondents.
Key Officials Made Respondents in the Case
The court has formally included the following officials as respondents to ensure accountability and coordinated action:
- The Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department of Kerala
- The Director of Health Services
- The State Police Chief
- The District Police Chief of Thrissur
- The District Medical Officer of Thrissur
- The Superintendents of the mental health centers in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode
Additional Reports and Security Directives
Beyond the comprehensive safety audit, the bench has sought several specific reports to address immediate concerns. The District Medical Officer of Thrissur must provide a report detailing the current condition of the three injured persons and the medical treatment being administered to them.
Furthermore, the Superintendents of all three mental health centers are required to submit reports outlining the existing steps and measures in place to ensure the protection of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals working within these facilities. These reports must also include specific details regarding the number and deployment of security personnel at each center.
Enhanced Security Measures Ordered
Addressing critical security lapses, the court issued a clear directive to the Superintendents of Police or Police Commissioners of Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode. They are instructed to ensure that adequate security is maintained at all mental health centers based on formal requisitions made by the respective facility superintendents. This measure is explicitly intended to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The bench has adjourned the hearing of this matter to March 3 for further consideration, at which time all the mandated reports, including the pivotal safety audit, are expected to be presented before the court.
