NHRC chief, Arun Mishra to inspect the Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra from July 27– 28, 2022

New Delhi, July 25, (LAB) A delegation of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, led by its Chairperson, Mr. Justice Arun Mishra will visit the Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra, Uttar Pradesh from July 27 – 28, 2022.

 The visit of the NHRC chairperson comes after it was observed that the Supreme Court directions issued in 1997 regarding monitoring of mental hospitals in Agra, Gwalior, and Ranchi are not being implemented in its proper light and spirit. ,

The supreme court in its November 11, 1997, order which was in response to a PIL, had directed the District Judge to continue the monitoring of the Mental Hospitals in Gwalior, Agra & Ranchi, and give necessary directions from time to time by sending periodic reports to the NHRC with a copy to the Apex Court.

Accordingly, the NHRC Chairperson requested the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court to advise the District Judge of Agra to monitor the functioning of the mental hospitals and to send quarterly reports to the NHRC with a copy to the Supreme Court. A similar letter was also issued from the NHRC Joint Secretary to the District Judge of Agra, wherein the report for the quarter ending March 31, 2022 was requested to be submitted to the Commission latest by April 20, 2022.

An inspection report received from the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Agra in this regard highlighted shortcomings and difficulties in the functioning of the hospital, including lack of funds, shortage of staff, poor infrastructure, poor accommodation, difficulty in locating the family members of cured patients and difficulty in repatriation.

In the light of the findings of the report, the NHRC chairperson organized a visit as well as a workshop to sensitize the authorities about the Human Rights Violations of the persons housed in mental hospitals.

The delegation will include NHRC Members, Justice M.M. Kumar and Dr. D.M. Mulay, Secretary General, Mr. Devendra Kumar Singh, and Joint Secretary, Mr. Harish Chandra Chaudhary.

A workshop will also be held from July 27 – 28, 2022. The sensitization workshop, on July 28, 2022, day two of the delegation visit, will also include among others, Mr. Himanshu Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Mr. Pranjal Yadav, IAS, Special Secretary, Department of Medical Health & Family Welfare, Prof. Pratima Murthy, Director, NIMHANS, Divisional Commissioner and District Judge, Agra /LAB/SNG