The Kerala High Court has expressed shock over what it described as the "dehumanising" conditions at the Government Mental Health Centre in Aranattukara, Thrissur, saying parts of the facility resembled "the perfect setting for a scene from a horror movie." The court directed the Kerala government to address the issues urgently, stressing that financial constraints cannot justify violations of patients' basic human rights.

The observations were made by a Division Bench comprising Justices Devan Ramachandran and Basant Balaji after they inspected the hospital on July 26, accompanied by amicus curiae Advocate V. Ramkumar Nambiar, as part of the High Court's continuing review of government psychiatric hospitals in Kerala. The inspection follows the bench's earlier visit to the Government Mental Health Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, where it had also ordered urgent reforms.

During the hearing, the judges said the conditions they witnessed, particularly in the isolation and confinement areas, were deeply disturbing and reflected decades of systemic neglect rather than failures by individual healthcare workers. They observed that many patients and their families are often unable to raise concerns because of the stigma associated with mental illness.

The bench described the hospital buildings as run-down, with peeling paint, algae-covered walls, and visible signs of deterioration. It remarked that the surroundings resembled "the perfect setting for a scene from a horror movie."

The judges also expressed concern over the isolation cells, noting that doctors informed them many patients housed there were vulnerable to self-harm or suicide. According to the court, the cells were tiny, dark, poorly ventilated, fitted with iron grills, and offered little privacy, making them "prison-like, if not worse."

The bench questioned whether isolating vulnerable patients in such environments could support recovery, observing that prolonged confinement may leave lasting psychological scars instead of aiding treatment. At the same time, the judges clarified that they were not blaming the doctors or nurses, describing them as dedicated professionals who had built meaningful relationships with many patients despite the difficult circumstances.

The court emphasised that persons living with mental illness enjoy the same constitutional protections as every other citizen and should not be forced to live in conditions that strip them of dignity. It also observed that mental healthcare institutions should promote treatment and rehabilitation rather than function as custodial facilities cut off from modern standards of care.

The inspection forms part of an ongoing suo motu case concerning the condition of government psychiatric hospitals in Kerala. The proceedings began earlier this year after a patient escaped from the Thrissur mental health centre and allegedly attacked three people nearby, prompting the High Court to order a safety audit of the state's three government mental health centres in Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode.

Since then, the court has been reviewing mental healthcare infrastructure in Kerala, including staffing, patient safety, security, rehabilitation, and living conditions, through inspections and reports submitted by the state and the amicus curiae.

The High Court's observations reflect the principles of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which recognises mental healthcare as a rights-based service. The law guarantees every person with mental illness the right to access quality mental healthcare, to live with dignity, and to receive treatment in a safe, hygienic, and least restrictive environment. It also protects individuals from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

Mental health experts have long argued that patient dignity in mental healthcare is as important as medical treatment, particularly in long-term psychiatric institutions where infrastructure and rehabilitation directly influence recovery.

The High Court said the women's wards at the Thrissur facility required immediate attention and pointed out that at least three existing buildings on the campus could be repaired and put into use without delay. The bench directed the state government to file an affidavit by August 18 detailing the steps taken to address each of the concerns raised during the inspection.

The judges made it clear that they would not accept financial limitations as an excuse for failing to protect the basic rights of patients, stating that ensuring human dignity is a fundamental obligation in a constitutional democracy.

Reference:

1. Government of India. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (Act No. 10 of 2017). New Delhi: Ministry of Law and Justice, Legislative Department, April 7, 2017. Accessed August 4, 2026.

(Rh/ARC/MSM)