The bench directed the concerned authority to provide details regarding the hearing by Sept 22
Kochi : The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) have approached the high court against the state govt’s decision to rename govt mental health centres as ‘happiness and wellness centres’.
A bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Basant Balaji, while considering the objections raised by senior counsel appearing for both organisations, directed the concerned state authority to address their contentions by affording them a hearing on Sept 16. For this, IMA and IPS have to submit their suggestions and concerns regarding the renaming of the centres to the health department principal secretary on or before Sept 14. The bench further directed the authority to provide details regarding the hearing by Sept 22. Meanwhile, advocate general K Jaju Babu informed the court that the govt had already issued a notification on Sept 7 renaming the mental health centres and placed a copy of the notification before the bench.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news. Accordingly, the state govt decided to rename the centres pursuant to a court directive to consider the suggestion of the amicus curiae. Download the TOI App.
Previously, Sathyasree Priya, amicus curiae in the case, had filed an interlocutory application (IA) in connection with the cases regarding the conditions at govt mental health centres, contending that the term ‘mental’ carried considerable stigma and suggesting that they be renamed ‘institutes of behavioural management’ or something similar. During an earlier hearing, the bench also welcomed the decision and opined that the change in name would catalyse the transformation of the centres in the manner envisaged by the court.