The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi over violation of human rights by Chennai Corporation while removing mentally ill persons from the streets of Chennai.
The Commission, in its notice on Monday, stated that if the report carried by TheHindu on June 8 were true, it amounted to serious violation of human rights.
The Chief Secretary has to reply within four weeks.
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The Commission pointed out from the news report which stated that: “People who were sleeping on the streets or loitering were picked up randomly as part of this drive in all the 10 Corporation zones. The services of a psychiatrist were not utilised. Those who apparently looked dirty or a little disoriented were being taken and sent to the IMH.”
“Of the 113 people who were sent to the Kilpauk Mental Hospital, the team ascertained that only 14 were given Reception Orders from the Magistrate approving the detention. Two weeks after their detention, thumb impressions were obtained on a statement which says that they were seeking admission voluntarily.”
The media report was based on a study by a fact-finding team comprising A. Marx of the People's Union for Human Rights, Madhumita Dutta of Vettiver Collective, M. Thirumavalavan, former government college principal, and Chandrika, a software engineer.
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The team visited the Melapakkam Care Camp for Beggars, the Communicable Diseases Hospital, Tondiarpet, and the Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk.