Nagpur High Court Takes Suo Motu Action on Mental Hospital Deficiencies
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has taken a significant step by expanding the scope of a suo motu public interest litigation to investigate broader infrastructure and facility gaps at the Regional Mental Hospital. This action follows a media report highlighting an acute shortage of psychiatric medicines at the facility.
Court Emphasizes Basic Requirements for Patients
A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode strongly emphasized that uninterrupted access to medicines for mentally ill patients is a "basic and non-negotiable requirement." The bench cautioned that such lapses "cannot be taken lightly" and directed the formal registration of a PIL. Advocate Isha Deepak Thakare was appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court in this matter.
Expanded Scope After Hospital Visit Reveals Multiple Issues
After Thakare's visit to the hospital on February 11, the bench recorded that "various serious issues about the infrastructure and facilities" were identified. Consequently, the court stated, "We thus, expand the scope of this petition and will consider other issues in addition to the issue in respect of non-availability of medicines." Notices were issued to respondents including the Maharashtra government, returnable on February 25, with Additional Government Pleader Deepak Thakare accepting the notices for all parties.
Origins in Media Report on Medicine Shortages
The proceedings originated from a media report published on January 20, which detailed prolonged non-availability of key psychiatric drugs. According to the report:
- Only 10 types of medicines were in stock at the time
- Several essential drugs had been unavailable for nearly 1.5 years
- Relatives of patients urged doctors to prescribe medicines from outside sources
- Doctors were reportedly unable to comply with these requests
Hospital Statistics and Historical Concerns
The Regional Mental Hospital handles substantial patient volumes, with approximately 300 outpatient registrations daily and housing more than 500 inpatients. The inpatient population includes about 280 men and 250 women. The media report also raised safety concerns for hospital staff in the absence of proper medication and referenced historical issues:
- A 2016 PIL that alleged multiple deficiencies including staff vacancies, medicine shortages, lack of winter clothing, and insufficient drinking water
- A calling attention motion in the Maharashtra Assembly in December 2016 concerning 21 patient deaths allegedly linked to negligence
The 2016 PIL specifically highlighted pitiable conditions at the hospital, with former MLAs expressing serious concerns about patient welfare and systemic failures. This historical context underscores the persistent nature of these challenges at the Regional Mental Hospital.
