Over the past decade, 475 individuals awaiting discharge from mental hospitals in Thane, Nagpur, Pune and Ratnagiri have undergone review board assessments, with 263 deemed fit for discharge. The Bombay High Court (HC) recently directed the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) to create a priority list for the swift rehabilitation of such patients. In prior hearings, the court even came down on the state government authorities for not having a comprehensive plan for discharge in place.

The release is now being facilitated in a phased manner, with 50 individuals on their way to be released soon. All of this has been possible because of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the court by renowned city-based psychiatrist Harish Shetty, flagging shoddy implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which made the government responsible for ensuring halfway homes, sheltered accommodations, rehab homes, and supported accommodation for patients deemed fit for discharge. mid-day spoke to Shetty about his fight for their release.