Hospice case: Advocate Commissioner appointed

Observing that some reports noted a disinclination of the inmates, who have been removed from the hospice, to return, a division bench comprising Justice C T Selvam and Justice N Satish Kumar said, “We cannot be oblivious to the position that the hospice has been dealing with persons on the verge of death, persons who suffer severe physical disabilities as also those who are mentally unsound. Reaction of each may vary.”

Accordingly, the bench appointed Sunder Mohan as Advocate Commissioner for visiting the homes/ places where prior inmates of petitioner hospice are presently housed and submit a report at the earliest. The bench also directed Sangeetha, District Social Welfare Officer, Kancheepuram, to inform by way of an affidavit, the circumstances under which the drastic action resorted to between 26.02.2018 and 28.02.2018 came to be in the course of the day itself. Noting so far not a single inmate has been shifted to the petitioner premises as directed by the court on March 27, the bench recorded the Additional Public Prosecutor’s submission that all earnest efforts are under way to comply with such orders of the court. 

The bench also recorded the petitioner’s submission citing a WhatsApp message presented by a doctor from the Chengalpattu Government Hospital.