Meghalaya High Court today summoned traditional village elders of a remote Ngundro village in South West Khasi Hills district for allegedly confining a 'mentally deranged' person in a cell for a month.
Taking suo-motu cognisance of a report which appeared in a local daily, a division bench consisting of Justice T N K Singh and S R Sen directed the concerned Deputy Commissioner and Superintendents of Police to ensure that no mentally challenged person is seen abandoned by his family or roaming about uncared in public places, or in other places inviting danger and causing inconvenience to public.
The DC and SP "shall take immediate steps for shifting the said mentally ill person Mr Slinder Turnia to a mental asylum so declared and recognized by the state of Meghalaya for treatment," Justice Singh said in an order referring to the particular incident the court took cognisance of.
The DC and SP were also directed to appear in person in the next hearing on June 15 and also ensure the appearance of the village headman and the secretary to explain as to why they did take law into their own hands in the name of social service in case of Turnia.
According to reports in a section of local media village headmean Bloswell Lyngkhoi had kept the 'mentally unstable' person Slinder Turnia in a cell.
