The Gauhati High Court has issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking direction for constitution/establishment of State Mental Health Authority as mandated by the Mental Health Care Act, 2017.
The PIL filed by one Tsipongse Thonger further prayed for constitution of Mental Health Review Boards as mandated by the same Act.
The Kohima Bench of Justice Nelson Sailo and Justice Kakheto Sema observed that on various dates, time was granted to the State counsel to obtain instructions in the matter and it is seen by the Bench that notice has not yet been issued to the respondents.
Having regard to the prayer made in the petition, the Bench deemed it proper to issue notice to the respondents making it returnable by four weeks.
It is directed by the High Court to the State respondents to file their affidavit-in-opposition within a period of four weeks, clearly indicating in chronological order, the steps that have been taken for establishment of the said authority.
“List the matter again after four weeks on a date to be fixed by the Registry,” the Court ordered.