In The Matter Of News Reports Published In The Hindustan Times, Patna Dated 24/10/2013 v. The State Of Bihar And ORS
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.21462 of 2013 ====================================================== In The Matter of News Reports Published In The Hindustan Times, Patna Dated 24/10/2013 .... .... Petitioner
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. The Superintendent of Police, Purnea.
3. The Superintendent of Police, Railways, Katihar.
4. The Civil Surgeon, Purnea.
5. The Medical Officer of the District Hospital, Purnea. .... .... Respondents ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Dr. Anshuman, Amicus Curiae For the State of Bihar : Mr. Lalit Kishore, Sr. Advocate, PAAG Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha, GA 9 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURBLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE I. A. ANSARI ORAL ORDER (Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE) 05-01-2015 This Public Interest Litigation was initiated noticing the photograph published in the Daily edition of the `Hindustan Times' Patna, dated 24.10.2013 wherein it was depicted that two legs of a person were tied up with a rope and he was being dragged in the street. The news item reads that the person was dragged like an animal to the hospital.
This Court naturally took serious exception of the incident. Notices were issued to the authorities of the Health Department as well as the Katihar Mental Hospital. The gist of the counter affidavits filed by them is that a person of Nepal origin sustained injury in an accident, he was taken to the hospital, and while undergoing treatment, he escaped and started running away.
Patna High Court CWJC No.21462 of 2013 (21) dt.05-01-2015 2/2 On the instruction issued by the authorities of the Health Department of Katihar district, the police is said to have apprehended the person. It is stated that when started behaving like a mentally sick person, his two legs were tied with rope so that he cannot run away further.
Heard learned Amicus Curiae and learned Advocate General.
After taking notice of the contentions of the parties, this Court issued direction for improvement of the facilities for treatment of the mentally ill persons. On its part, the Government of Bihar has apprised this Court of the various steps that have been taken for improvement of the facilities for treatment of the mentally ill persons. A hospital of 250 bed capacity is said to have been established, and on some aspects, steps are being taken. Sri Lalit Kishore, learned Principal Additional Advocate General, assures this Court that the hospital would be made to function in a full-fledged manner within a very short time. We take on record, the same. We also place on record the appreciation of service of the Amicus Curiae rendered by Dr. Anshuman.
We hereby close the present Public Interest Litigation requiring the Government of Bihar to complete the establishment of the hospital in all respects at the earliest. (L. Narasimha Reddy,CJ) (I. A. Ansari, J) mrl U