Chandigarh tells Punjab and Haryana High Court it can accommodate persons in need of facilities

Chandigarh, April 14

The UT Administration can accommodate persons requiring facilities in accordance with the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, and the rules framed under it. Information to this effect was given to the Punjab and Haryana High Court during the hearing of a contempt of court petition.

As the plea filed by Aditya Vikram Rametra against UT Adviser Manoj Kumar Parida and other respondents came up for hearing, the Bench of Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu was told by the UT counsel that a draft status report was ready.

The counsel added that the same could not be filed as the Adviser was not available. He pointed out that provision had been made to accommodate persons requiring facilities at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and Cheshire Home, Sector 21, Chandigarh.

He said the respondent (UT) was also in the process of identifying other places where such persons could be accommodated and that the facilities available were sufficient to meet the present requirements.

The counsel for the petitioner, on the other hand, submitted that a large number of persons had approached the UT Administration for accommodation in accordance with the Act. However, they were not being provided the facilities.

“The counsel for the petitioner may forward the list of such persons to Anil Mehta, counsel appearing for the respondent (UT), who may respond as to how they would accommodate those named persons,” Justice Sidhu asserted, while adjourning the hearing of the case to May 26.