Mentally ill also have right to live with dignity: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern on mental patients having been chained in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district, saying that even a person suffering from such a disease is still a human being and his right to live with dignity cannot be compromised with.

A bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to respond by Monday about the state of affairs as advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, appearing in person, pointed out the persons with mental illness were kept chained in a faith-based mental asylum in Badaun district.

After going through the petition, the bench said, “this was not only inhuman but also violated provisions of the law.”

The top court issued a notice to the Centre and all states including Uttar Pradesh on the PIL seeking a direction to start a programme to provide mental health care and treatment to patients with such an illness and set up state mental health authority and a fund under the provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017.

“The issue is of serious concern and requires urgent consideration. The petitioner has placed on record photographs in this regard. This is not only inhuman but violated the provisions of the law. Even a person suffering from a mental disease is still a human being and his right to live with dignity can't be compromised,” the bench said.