The court found that out of Rs 2.5 crore received by the Thiruvananthapuram Mental Health Centre during the fiscal ending March 31, 2010, only about Rs 1.39 crore had been utilised. 'This is a matter of Constitutional and institutional shame on the face of under privileged', it held.
In two other instances, Rs 26 lakh alloted to district mental heath centres in Kozhikode and Thrissur and Rs 46 lakh allotted to strengthen the psychiatric wing of a government medical college was found unspent.
'This is a shame on the face of governance', the court said.
It is high time the state government take up the issue and fix responsibility, including dereliction of duty and violation of human rights on 'irresponsible' officers and consider initiating prosecution against them, Justice Thothathil B Radhakrishnan, said in his order.
'If you can't why cling on as leeches for your sustenance at their cost?', the Judge asked in stinging observations.
The lapse was noticed by the court when it came across a CAG report while exercising its jurisdiction on monitoring of mental health centres.
More From This Section
The court also directed the state government to produce a detailed action plan in three weeks touching the unutilised balance funds during the different years.
Justice Radhakrishnan also urged the Legislators, Executive and Judicial officers to 'think loud' for the unfortunate people labelled as Mentally challenged. (MORE)