Explained | Mental Healthcare as a Right: Patna High Court’s Suo Motu Action in Bihar
“Mental health is an integral component of the right to life Under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”
“Mental health is an integral component of the right to life Under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”
Under Clause XVII of the Letters Patent, this Court has power and authority with respect to the person and estate of infants, idiots, and lunatics within the Bombay Presidency.
On literal interpretation of Section 115(1) of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, it can be stated that any person who attempts to commit suicide shall be presumed, unless proved otherwise, to have severe stress and cannot be tried and punished for any offences under Penal Code, 1860.
Section 115 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 stated that a person who tried to commit suicide, enjoyed a statutory presumption about mental stress and having regard to such presumption, is excluded from being put on trial.
“The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 is a special Act and by virtue of Section 120 of the said Act, the same has been given an overriding effect with respect to any other law for the time being in force.”
by Shrinivas Deshmukh†