Report on mentally challenged persons roaming streets sought

A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha passed the direction on a plea moved by M Karpagam seeking to provide adequate food and shelter to the dying destitute and mentally disabled persons, who are living and stranded on the road sides and pavements in Tamil Nadu and shift them to government homes after conducting COVID test on them.

After perusing the reply affidavit submitted by the government, the bench held, “Though the special government pleader submitted that steps have been taken, prima facie we find some force in the submission made by the counsel appearing for the petitioner.”

Based on this, the bench directed the government to file a report on the action taken and action required to be taken, on or before August 14.

The bench also recorded the submission made by the petitioner’s counsel R Prabhakaran that news reports published a few days ago from Palani had stated how mentally challenged persons were roaming around without proper food.

Now, the private homes were not in a position to take care of such persons throughout the State, the counsel said, adding that appropriate direction would have to be issued in this regard.