Centre Should Act Promptly in Rehabilitating Homeless Individuals with Mental Illnesses
The Supreme Court of India has taken up the matter of rehabilitating homeless individuals with psychosocial disabilities, emphasizing the urgent need for action rather than just legal provisions. The Court is hearing a petition filed by Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who has called for the formulation and implementation of a policy to address this issue [1][2][3].
The Court has expressed concern over the lack of effective execution of existing laws, such as the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, and the National Mental Health Policy, 2014 [2]. In response, the government has reported that interdepartmental meetings are underway, with discussions aimed at addressing the issue [1][2][3].
Advocate Bansal has urged the Centre to establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for key stakeholders, including law enforcement, medical health departments, and social welfare departments. This is to ensure a coordinated, humane, and rights-based approach to rehabilitation [1][2]. The government has been given eight weeks to present a detailed progress report on its actions [1][2][3].
The petitioner has highlighted the dire condition of homeless individuals, stating they are being treated like footballs. Moreover, he has pointed out that many homeless individuals are women and that there is often a negative approach from law enforcement due to the absence of a proper rehabilitation framework [1].
The Court will next hear the case on September 22 [4]. The petition seeks to ensure that homeless individuals with psychosocial disabilities are treated with dignity and provided with the necessary support for their rehabilitation [1]. The future steps mandated include policy finalization, SOP formulation, concrete ground-level action, and continuous judicial monitoring to ensure compliance and protection of the rights of these individuals.
[1] NDTV, (2022). Supreme Court Urges Centre to Expedite Rehabilitation Policy for Homeless Individuals with Psychosocial Disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-court-urges-centre-to-expedite-rehabilitation-policy-for-homeless-individuals-with-psychosocial-disabilities-3499246
[2] The Hindu, (2022). Supreme Court Seeks Centre's Response on Petition Seeking Directions to Formulate Policy for Rehabilitation of Homeless Individuals with Psychosocial Disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-seeks-centres-response-on-petition-seeking-directions-to-formulate-policy-for-rehabilitation-of-homeless-individuals-with-psychosocial-disabilities/article65950294.ece
[3] LiveLaw, (2022). Supreme Court Expresses Grave Concern Over Lack of Implementation of Laws for Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/supreme-court-expresses-grave-concern-over-lack-of-implementation-of-laws-for-persons-with-psychosocial-disabilities-20220615-HKDJRQJZTKZXK4ZI
[4] Bar & Bench, (2022). Supreme Court List for September 22, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.barandbench.com/news/court-listings/supreme-court-list-for-september-22-2022
In light of the Supreme Court's concern over the lack of implementation of mental health-related laws, Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal has urged the Centre to establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the fields of science, health-and-wellness, and mental-health, for key stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and humane approach to rehabilitating homeless individuals with psychosocial disabilities. The future steps mandated by the Court aim to provide these individuals with the necessary support and protection of their rights, as the petition seeks to treat them with dignity.
