HC Judge sends E-mail order to help mental patients

In perhaps a first of its kind order, a Kerala High Court Judge, who is away in Chandigarh, today sent an email order with a direction to all concerned officials, Southern Railways, Railway Protection force and Police to provide adequate facilities to eight mentally ill patients from
Uttar Pradesh who will be taken to Bareilly on May 11.
Kochi Corporation Secretary has been directed to depute two persons-- a psychiatric social worker and a female attendant acquainted with the inmates, who were earlier residing at the Palluruthy Relief settlement here and Thrissur mental health centre.
Health secretary and Secretary Family welfare department should take all necessary steps for releasing funds for the mentally ill persons from Uttar Pradesh and those accompanying them to Bareilly. TA/DA in advance to doctors and persons accompanying them should be given, the order said.

The order prepared by Justice Thothathil B Radhakrishnan, who is in Chandigarh, was sent by email to Registrar General of the High Court.
The order was issued on the report by the Kerala State Legal Services Authority on the large number of mental patients from other states in mental and relief centres at Thrissur and Pallurthy in Kochi.

The patients from Uttar Pradesh, who would be taken to the Barilley Mental Health centre on May 11, would be accompanied by a team of doctors, social workers and helpers, KELSA Member secretary P Mohandas told PTI.
Proper treatment would be given to them there after which their relatives would be identified and they would be sent home.

Totally 24 patients would be sent to their respective states, Mohandas, a former District Judge, said. Three more patients from UP and nine from Madhya Pradesh would be sent to Indore Mental Health centre and four from Gujarat to Vadodara Mental Health centre would be sent later, he said.
Mohandas said the transportation expenses was being met by the KELSA now. Railways had given some concessions for the tickets of the patients, he said.
This is the second batch of mental patients being taken to their home state.