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Kerala High Court Orders Urgent Reforms at After Prison Like Inspection
In a significant judicial intervention, the has directed the state government to initiate immediate improvements at the in Thiruvananthapuram. The order, issued by the comprising Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji, follows a personal inspection of the facility that revealed conditions described by the bench as “prison-like.”
A Facility in Decay
During the , visit, the bench observed severe deficiencies in both human resources and physical infrastructure. The institution, housing 437 patients, currently operates with only 127 attenders against a sanctioned capacity of 158. The court highlighted that this staffing shortage has forced non-specialized staff to take on roles ranging from kitchen operations to groundskeeping and site security, resulting in an environment that inhibits proper patient care.
The court noted with dismay that even the most basic maintenance tasks remained ignored. A large overhanging tree branch threatening a ward was left unattended, and the center lacks adequate perimeter security, placing the burden of safety on an already overwhelmed staff. Furthermore, construction of critical new wards and a “Halfway Home” remains stalled, leaving patients confined to locked cells rather than benefiting from therapeutic, open spaces.
Upholding Dignity Under the Mental Healthcare Act
The bench emphasized that the recognizes the heightened vulnerability of its patients. The judges argued that the current reliance on constant room confinement is a violation of the therapeutic principles required for mental wellness. “The patients are virtually left to fend for themselves, with the nurses and other staff... being literally bewildered by the enormity of the task they are entrusted with,” the court stated in its .
Key Observations
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"The condition of the internal roads in this Center was also pitiable - making it impossible not only for vehicles to ply but also for people to walk without falling down."
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"In the midst of this are the harrowing circumstances the patients go through; and since they are unable to express themselves in the manner that a normal person would, their cries and pathos are often left unrecognized."
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"The mentation has to change and the protocols have to evolve with the ultimate desideratum of every patient being brought back to life and to be worthy citizens."
Directives for Change
The High Court has issued a series of to the state administration. The government must immediately fill all vacant attender positions and provide an explanation regarding the absence of specialized security personnel, cooks, and laundry staff.
Additionally, the authorities are tasked with filing a comprehensive on the stalled construction projects and the rehabilitation mechanism for the 55 patients presently deemed fit for discharge. By demanding a timeline for infrastructure restoration, including the resurfacing of internal roads, the court has set a clear mandate: the state must transform the facility from a place of mere containment into one of recovery and reintegration. The matter is scheduled for further review on .
