Keywords: Mental health, Therapy, Remedial approach, Mental integrity, Prison inmates
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma has observed that a convict has to be put back to the society as a prudent and law-abiding citizen where he resents his past action and that is only possible if the mental health issues are taken gentle care of and attended timely. It is to be observed that the imprisonment as a punishment only restricts the convicts’ right to liberty and not their human rights. Thus, their mental health condition is not supposed to be ignored.
The High Court of Delhi has directed the concerned administration to bring to the notice of a psychiatrist if they find any issued related to mental health of the convicts immediately and they are to be provided with appropriate counselling, therapies and other medical facilities necessary. Both medical officers and the police administration are to handle the emotional and mental issue of the prisoners sensitively. Prison inmates who get punished repeatedly are to be referred to the psychiatrist with promptness and be provided with proper remedial approach which will be funded by Govt. of NCT of Delhi, and a Standard Operating Procedure must be prepared for that matter.
DSLSA has been directed to conduct workshops that acts as a therapy for mental health stability. Prison officials are expected to have a close look in this matter and the Court added that the inmates are ought to have social policy which plays a greater role in achieving changes in them for good and protects their mental integrity. It has been ordered that there should be a psychiatrist or a counselor at Delhi prisons throughout the year to ensure the protection of mental health of the prison inmates. The court has also asked to file a compliance report regarding this matter within two months of the order on 7th August.
Written by – Vaishnavi N, College name – Alliance School of Law, Alliance University,, Bengaluru, 3rd semester, An intern under Legal Vidhiya
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