Patna: The Patna High Court said it seems that people’s mental health and their care are “at least prioritizing” the government of Bihar, and directing the main secretary to take all steps to ensure the establishment of state mental health authorities.
The division bench, which consisted of the Head of Justice of Sanjay Karol and Kumar Kual, expressed shocked because of the absence of the authority in the state.
“It seems that someone’s mental health and treatment of those who need, more than when Covid-19, is the priority of the state government,” Bench said.
It heard litigation of public interest, which was submitted by the Willksha Maviya, who was looking for directions from the state to the state government to build legitimate and functional mental health authorities with compliance with mental health laws, 2017 and started Helpline and Counseling facilities.
The previous government had submitted a written statement about the problem as it was sought by the bench.
The law relates to the establishment and composition of state authorities for people with mental illness.
Legal purposes are to provide health care services to them and to protect, promote and fulfill their rights.
The bench noticed that “steps to build authority began only in 2020, that too, with advertising publications in newspapers and therefore nothing was done to speed up the process”.
It also observes that even the written statement does not reveal the deadline where the process of setting the mental health authority will be completed.
“Surprisingly, as it is now proven from a written statement submitted by the state, the authority has not been formed …
We are limited to directing the Chief Secretary, the Government of Bihar, to avoid the establishment of authority as stipulated under the part-45 of the law,” Bench said in order on February 10.
It also directs the main secretary to submit a written statement of compliance, shows the latest status before February 25, the next hearing date.
“We also expect the Secretary of the Chief, the Bihar Government to show the steps taken to comply with other provisions of the law, the deficiency shows by the applicant in the Writ Petition, and the suggestions provided for proper and effective implementation,” The Effective “The bench was added.