Law might have taken a lenient view of Purushothaman, but life hasn't.

Locked up in a cell 2 decades ago in a criminal case, he was acquitted by a court in 2009, but the Koodaranji native hasn't been able to walk to freedom yet. He has been forced to spend his life in the special cell at the Govt Mental Health Centre, Kozhikode, as his relatives have been reluctant to take him back to their fold. Medical records say that Purushothaman is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

77 in all

A data compiled by the Kerala Legal Services Authority (KLSA) indicate that 77 prisoners are languishing in govt mental health centres in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode & Thrissur.

They couldn't stand trial as they were found to be of unsound mind.

Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with such situations. “Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who, at the time of doing it, by reason of unsoundness of mind, is incapable of knowing the nature of the act or that he is doing what is either wrong or contrary to law,” reads the Code.

Of these 14 persons have been acquitted by courts, but are still remaining in prison-like cells as their relatives are reluctant to take them back.

Kurumban has been in confinement for a quarter century. Though the Judicial 1st Class Magistrate, Mannarkad, discharged him of all charges way back in 1996, he continues to be imprisoned.

Continued custody

Muhammad Sherief, a murder accused, was admitted to the rehabilitation facility in Kozhikode in 2012. Last year, he was acquitted by the Special Judge (for the trial of offences against women & children), Thalassery.

But the court ordered his continued custody as the judge was convinced that he was suffering from mental illness & had to be properly taken care of & prevented from doing injury to himself or to any other person.

2 decades have passed since Shanmughan of Kasaragod was acquitted of murder charge by Sessions Court, Kasaragod, & ordered his safe custody. He too was found “not fit for rehabilitation.”

Relatives reluctant

In the case of Sulaiman of Malappuram, even 15 years after the court freed him, none of his relatives have come forward to execute a bond & secure his release.

Chandran of Palakkad, an accused in a criminal case, was brought to the mental health centre, Kozhikode, half a century ago on Feb 2, 1969.

Over half a century

During the past 50 years, life outside his cell has changed much. But nothing has changed for him.

It may require an intervention from the higher judiciary to bring justice to them, pointed out a judicial officer involved in the welfare these prisoners.

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