A tense silence filled the courtroom of the Kerala High Court on Monday as a disturbing incident from Thrissur’s Mental Health Centre came under judicial scrutiny. A patient declared to be in need of care had allegedly escaped from the facility and later attacked three people in the city.
Taking serious note of the episode, a Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha stepped in with immediate directions, calling for a statewide safety review of mental health institutions.
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Background of the Case
The matter arose in a long-pending public interest litigation originally filed by the High Court Legal Aid Committee. Over the years, the case has addressed various concerns relating to mental health institutions in Kerala.
On February 16, 2026, an interlocutory application was placed before the Bench after the recent incident in Thrissur. According to the court record (pages 5–8 of the order), a person admitted for psychiatric care escaped from the Mental Health Centre in Thrissur and later assaulted three individuals during the night.
While the injured persons are now out of danger, the court observed that the trauma they endured could not be ignored.
“The situation presented is very grave and requires to be dealt with immediately,” the Bench remarked during the hearing.
Court’s Observations
The judges did not hide their concern. Referring to the lapse, the Bench noted that something like this had long been feared, particularly if security systems in such centres were not periodically verified.
“Something like this to happen in future is one that we were always apprehensive about,” the court observed, adding that the security arrangements in Mental Health Centres had not been properly audited for a considerable time.
The Amici Curiae - senior advocate V. Ramkumar Nambiar and Smt. Sathyashree Priya Easwaran - brought pointed questions before the court, seeking accountability and preventive steps.
The Bench agreed that answers were necessary, but made it clear that the matter could not be left to routine responses.
“No delay can be brooked, particularly when dealing with people who have no control over their actions,” the court said.
Government’s Response
The State Government Pleader sought a few days’ time to respond to the application and to address the questions raised by the Amici Curiae.
The Bench allowed the request but clarified that it would not wait passively. Immediate interim directions were issued to ensure corrective measures began without delay.
Directions Issued by the Court
The High Court expanded the list of respondents to include top officials from the Health and Police Departments. Among those impleaded were the Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Director of Health Services, the District Medical Officer of Thrissur, the State Police Chief, and the Superintendents of Mental Health Centres in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode (as reflected on pages 6–8 of the order ).
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The court then issued a series of firm directions:
- Statewide Safety Audit: The Director of Health Services was directed to conduct a comprehensive safety audit of all three Mental Health Centres. The focus must be on areas where persons in need of care are housed and protected.
- Involvement of Amici Curiae: The Amici Curiae were requested to participate in the audit process. The audit report must be submitted before the next posting date.
- Medical Status of Victims: The District Medical Officer, Thrissur, was directed to verify the present condition of the injured persons and report how their treatment expenses are being handled.
- Protection of Healthcare Staff: The Superintendents of the Mental Health Centres must inform the court about measures in place to protect doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, along with details about security personnel deployed.
- Police Oversight: Police Commissioners and Superintendents in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode were directed to ensure adequate security in all Mental Health Centres and to coordinate with hospital authorities to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
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The Court’s Decision
Concluding the hearing, the Bench fixed the matter for further consideration on March 3, 2026.
The court’s order makes it clear: the escape and subsequent attack are not isolated issues but indicators of possible systemic gaps. Immediate verification, accountability, and preventive steps have now been placed on record under judicial supervision.
The matter now stands adjourned, with compliance reports expected on the next date of hearing.
Case Title: The High Court Legal Aid Committee v. State of Kerala & Others
Case No.: IA No. 2/2026 in OP No. 16667/1996 (S)
Decision Date: February 16, 2026
