HC asks official to visit hospice inmates

The Madras High Court appointed an Advocate Commissioner to visit the various homes and places where inmates of St. Joseph’s Hospice are housed and submit a report.

Justice C.T. Selvam and Justice N. Sathish Kumar, appointed advocate Sunder Mohan as Advocate Commissioner. He will be assisted by a psychiatrist, who will be appointed by the Director, Institute of Mental Health, Chennai, and Alex Pandian, manager of the hospice.

The court has directed the Advocate Commissioner to interact with the inmates of the hospice.

“Prior inmates, who desire to return to the petitioner’s St. Joseph’s Hospice, shall be permitted to so. Such of the prior inmates, who are of discerning mind in the opinion of the psychiatrist, and who desire not to return to petitioner’s hospice, shall be permitted to act in keeping with their intent,” the court said.

Relatives’ views

“Where prior inmates are not of discerning mind, the opinion of their immediate relatives may be taken into consideration and a decision with regard to their shifting or otherwise to petitioner’s hospice may be taken there upon,” the High Court directed.

The judges said the Advocate Commissioner shall complete the task assigned and file a report at his earliest convenience.