After HC order, mentally challenged patients kept in chains freed, admitted in hospital

RUDRAPUR/NAINITAL: A day after the Uttarakhand high court (HC) ordered freeing of a mentally challenged 22-year-old man in Rudraprayag and a 14-yr-old girl in Udham Singh Nagar who were kept in chains by their parents, both the patients were freed and admitted in health facilities.
The plight of the two patients had been highlighted by TOI after which their cases were mentioned in a PIL filed in the HC.Pankaj Rana, a 22-year-old from Rudraprayag had been kept chained by his family ever since he was born since he was afflicted with a condition termed as quadriparesis which renders limbs immobile as well as aphasia which affects the comprehension of speech. His mother, a widow, did not have the resources to get him treated. Similarly, Chandni Das, another mentally challenged girl had been kept chained for three years by her parents since she ocassionally turned violent. The 14-year-old girl’s father, Narayan Das, a daily wager, could not afford to get her treated. Taking cognizance of both these cases, the division bench of justices Rajiv Sharma and Sharad Kumar Sharma had on Friday directed the state government to pay Rs 50,000 to the guardians of both the mentally challenged persons and fix their pension at Rs 5,000 per month. The court had also directed the administration of both Rudraprayag and Udham Singh Nagar districts to ensure that the affected persons “are freed within six hours and admitted in a suitable health facility within 24 hours.”
Incidentally, when a police team reached Chandni Das's house in Subhash Colony in Rudrapur, they found that her family was about to get her married and preparations regarding the wedding were going on inside the house. “The girl’s family were initially not ready to stop the marriage but when they were told about the court's detailed order and the provisions made for their daughter’s welfare, they gave their consent and co-operated with us,” said an official who was part of the police team.
The girl’s father told TOI that he was thankful to the court for its intervention. “Although I have five sons, nobody is willing to take responsibility of Chandni. The court’s order has given me hope that some day, my daughter will also be able to lead a normal life.” Sadanand Date, senior superintendent of police, Udham Singh Nagar, added that Chandni was “admitted to the state mental health facility in Selaqui in Dehradun where her treatment will continue.”
Meanwhile, Dr SK Jha, the chief medical officer of Rudraprayag district, told TOI that “in compliance of the court orders, the patient Pankaj Rana was brought to the district hospital on Friday itself.” “We could not immediately refer the patient to AIIMS, Rishikesh as the court had directed due to bad weather and constant rains. But on Saturday, he was admitted in AIIMS. A team of doctors is looking after him.”