The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to confirm that people lodged in mental health establishments are tested for COVID-19 and are completely vaccinated with first priority.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah took serious note of Maharashtra government’s shifting patients stuck in mental health institutes to homes for beggars and asked it to discontinue the practice immediately saying it is counter-productive and runs against the provisions of the Mental Health Act.
The bench further noted that from now on it will monitor the case and would start listing the matter after three weeks as it is a very delicate matter.
The top court also directed all the states and Union Territories to extend all cooperation and participate in the meeting of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to be held on July 12.
The states and union territories were asked to remove the variations in figures submitted about the people who have been cured but are still suffering in mental health institutions or who still needs treatments.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Bansal in which he has said that around 10,000 people, who are fit to be discharged, are forced to live in different mental hospitals across the country and institutes due to social stigma.
India’s COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 35.71 Cr
India’s cumulative COVID Vaccination Coverage exceeded 35.71 crore (35,71,05,461), as per the 7 pm provisional report today. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June. More than 41.34 lakh (41,34,868) Vaccine Doses have been administered today, as per the 7 pm provisional report.
18,30,741 vaccine doses were administered as first dose and 1,40,368 vaccine doses given as second dose in the age group 18-44 years today. Cumulatively, 10,25,96,048 persons in the age group 18-44 years across 37 States/UTs have received their first dose and total 29,19,735 have received their second dose since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive. Eight States namely Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra have administered more than 50 lakh first dose of COVID-19 Vaccine in the age group 18-44 years. Also, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have vaccinated more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years for the first dose of COVID vaccine.
