JUDGMENT

RANGANATH MISRA, J:— A letter addressed to the learned Chief Justice of this Court from two citizens of Patna in regard to the Mental Hospital at Kanke near Ranchi in Bihar State was considered as a public interest litigation and registered as an application under Article 32 of the Constitution. On 7-4-1986, this Court called upon the State of Bihar to file its counter-affidavit and the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Ranchi or any other Judicial Magistrate nominated by him to visit the hospital and submit a report about the conditions prevailing in the Hospital.

2. The Chief Judicial Magistrate visited the hospital on 8-6-1986, and on several other occasions thereafter and submitted a detailed report on 15th of July, 1986. He found that there were 1580 beds. The Hospital was in the sole management of the Health Department of the State of Bihar. The State received financial contributions from West Bengal and Orissa. There is a Managing Committee of the Hospital consisting of 14 members in all with the Commissioner of South Chotanagpur Division as its Chairman. The sanctioned strength of medical officers was 16 but only 9 had been filled-up and there were 7 vacancies. In the Ho