Application for judicial inquisition

MENTAL HEALTH ACT, 1987

Section 50 - Application for judicial inquisition

(1) Where an alleged mentally ill person is possessed of property, an application for holding an inquisition into the mental condition of such person may be made either— (a) by any of his relatives, or (b) by a public curator appointed under the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (39 of 1925), or (c) by the Advocate-General of the State in which the alleged mentally ill person resides, or (d) where the property of the alleged mentally ill person comprises land or interest in land, or where the property or part thereof is of such a nature as can lawfully be entrusted for management to a Court of Wards established under any law for the time being in force in the State, by the Collector of the District in which such land is situate, to the District Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the alleged mentally ill person resides. (2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the District Court shall, by personal service or by such other mode of service as it may deem fit, serve a notice on the alleged mentally ill person to attend at such place and at such time as may be specified in the notice or shall, in like manner, serve a notice on the person having the custody of the alleged mentally ill person to produce such person at the said place and at the said time, for being examined by the District Court or by any other person from whom the District Court may call for a report concerning the mentally ill person: Provided that, if the alleged mentally ill person is a woman, who according to the custom prevailing in the area where she resides or according to the religion to which she belongs, ought not to be compelled to appear in public, the District Court may cause her to be examined by issuing a commission as provided in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908). (3) A copy of the notice under sub-section (2) shall also be served upon the applicant and upon any relative of the alleged mentally ill person or other person who, in the opinion of the District Court, shall have notice of judicial inquisition to be held by it. (4) For the purpose of holding the inquisition applied for, the District Court may appoint two or more persons to act as assessors.