Lucknow, January 3: Hundreds of mentally challenged patients were found "chained" like animals in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district. The photographic evidence of their mistreatment was submitted by a petitioner before the Supreme Court, who sought a judicial order on the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017.

Taking cognizance of the evidence submitted by the petitioner, the apex court rapped the Uttar Pradesh government, asking the counsel for Yogi Adityanath regime to submit a detailed response on why the law did not come into force in the state. Mentally Challenged Girl Who Went Missing in 2013 Kedarnath Floods, Reunites with Family.

Reports said the mentally challenged victims were tied with chains at a 'mazhar' or shrine in Badaun, where they are allegedly treated by quacks posing as spiritual healers.

The top court bench also issued a notice to the Centre, asking why such gross violation of human rights has went unnoticed from the authorities.

The apex court noted that the manner in which these patients have been treated amount to the violation of rights accorded to the  mentally challenged citizens under Article 21. Dignity of such persons cannot be compromised, the bench added.

The Mental Healthcare Act 2017 is based on the protocol on "rights of persons with disabilities" adopted by the United Nations in 2006. Since India was a signatory to the resolution, the government decided to enact a law for its implementation.

The law guarantees a life with dignity to a person suffering from mental illness. "Every person with mental illness shall be protected from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in any mental health establishment," the law states.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 03, 2019 05:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).