Mental patients should not be kept nude in a secluded cell, tells Kerala HC
Confinement in cells that too nude, would only result in more torture to the patients, High Court said.
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has held that none of the psychiatric patients, even those showing acute suicidal tendencies, should be kept nude in a secluded cell at the Mental Health Centers (MCH).
The court issued the directives on a plea pointing to the practice of confining mentally challenged patients with suicidal tendencies in nude.
The court stressed the need for providing suitable material, which would make it impossible for patients to use it to snuff out their own life.
The court also asked the MCHs to constitute a committee to place a patient nude in rare cases and if allowed they should not be exposed to anyone of the opposite sex, including hospital staff.
Pointing to the poor conditions at the mental health centers the court observed that position is same all over the country.
Kerala HC rules against encroacher
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday allowed the Thiruvananthapuram District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to demolish a five-storied building owned by bar owner Biju Ramesh, encroaching on a canal in Thiruvananthapuram city.
A Division Bench issued the order while setting aside a Single bench order against the decision of DDMA. The action taken by the district authority is within the rules and Biju had no ground to challenge the proceedings, the court observed.