The Supreme Court on Thursday summoned Chief Secretaries of five States and Administrators of three Union Territories for failing to provide information under the National Mental Health Programme on upkeep of mental hospitals.
On September 1, the court granted four weeks to all States and Union Territories to respond to a report filed by the NHRC in a pending PIl that highlighted serious shortcomings in mental hospitals across the country.Most States and UTs filed their response to the court’s directive except for the States of Bihar, Rajasthan Chhattisgarh, Goa and Meghalaya and Union Territories of Chandigarh, Andaman & Nicobar and lakshadweep.
The Bench of Justices MY Eqbal and Pinaki Chandra Ghose ordered the respective ChiefSecretaries/Administrators of the above States/UTs to remain present on October 29, the next date of hearing.