Kohima, September 21 (MExN): The State Cabinet has approved the Nagaland State Mental Health Case Rules 2022, and it is currently awaiting the Union Government's approval, the Kohima High Court Kohima Bench was informed on September 20.
Senior Government Advocate had told the Court that the Rules were approved in terms of Section-12(2) of the Mental Health Care Act, 2017, and have been forwarded to the Central Government for consent.
Hence, he sought three weeks' time to place the necessary instruction before the Court on the next date fixed.
Accordingly, the Division Bench of Justice Kakheto Sema and Justice Kardak Ete directed the instruction to be placed before the Court by way of an affidavit, while listing the matter again for hearing after three weeks. In its oral observation, however, the Bench expressed concern over the casualness of the issue.
The Bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed in July 2021, which sought, among other things, direction to the State respondents (the State of Nagaland, represented by the Chief Secretary and the Department of Health and Family Welfare) to constitute the Mental Health Authority as per the provisions of the Mental Health Care Act 2017.
