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An area comprising not less than 100 meters around hospitals, educational institutions and courts are known as silence areas or silence zones.1 In a silent zone you cannot2: Use a public address system Play any music Rise any sound amplifiers Beat a drum or tom-tom Blow a horn either, musical or pressure, or trumpet orRead more

Every State Government categorizes areas into the following, where various noise standards/limits have to be followed: Industrial Commercial Residential Silence areas/zones Development authorities, local bodies and other authorities while planning a developmental activity or carrying out functions relating to town/country have the responsibility to avoid noise menace and maintain noise standards.1 For example, if youRead more

Noise is common in everyday life, but when it goes above a certain limit, it is considered to be pollution1 as well as a public nuisance1. Noise at such levels may be injurious to human beings, living creatures, plants, property and the environment2. Some common sources of noise pollution are industrial activity, construction activity, generatorRead more

Under the law, emergency treatment refers to any medical and mental health care treatment. It can be provided by a registered medical practitioner to a person with mental illness1. For this, the consent of the nominated representative is required, if he is available.  The immediate treatment prevents: 2: The death or harm to the personRead more

The rules for admission and discharge of a child or minor (below 18 years of age) are different from those of adults. In case a child requires admission in a mental health establishment, the nominated representative should apply to the mental health professional in charge of the establishment for the child’s admission1.  Criteria for AdmissionRead more

The supported mode of admission and discharge means that the person being admitted does not have the capacity to make mental health care decisions, or requires very high support. All admissions in a mental health care establishment should be independent, except when supported admission is necessary1.  Supported Admission for 1 month Criteria and Procedure forRead more

Independent admission means the admission of a person who has the capacity to make mental health care decisions, or requires very less support in making them. An independent patient is given treatment only after informed consent1 (i.e. permission given after complete knowledge of the treatment and its consequences). Additionally, an independent patient must follow theRead more

Admission and discharge in a mental health establishment can be in the following ways: Through the independent mode Through the supported mode1.  In the independent mode of admission and discharge, the person has the capacity to make mental health care and treatment decisions, or requires very less support in making such decisions. Therefore, as anRead more

Every person with mental illness who is admitted has the right to communication1. This means the right to:  Refuse or receive visitors  Refuse or receive and make phone calls subject to the rules of the mental health establishment  Send and receive emails2 Additionally, the right to communication also means that the person does not haveRead more

A person with mental illness or his nominated representative has the right to complain. It can be done regarding deficient care, treatment and related services in a mental health establishment 1.  One can make such a complain to2: The mental health professional in charge of the establishment, and if not satisfied with the response  TheRead more

Every person with mental illness has a right to free legal aid with respect to his or her rights 1. Free legal aid means providing legal services, free of cost, to certain sections of the society, and it means that one has a right to ask for any of the legal services given below: RepresentationRead more

A person with mental illness has the right to confidentiality regarding his mental health, mental healthcare and physical healthcare1. This means that the mental health professional who is providing care/treatment must keep all such health related information private, and not reveal it without the respective person’s consent . Additionally, this includes the release of informationRead more

Every person with mental illness and his nominated representative have the right to information from the mental health professional. This includes the following information1: Law on persons with mental illness under which the person has been admitted Criteria for admission in a mental health establishment Right to make an application to the Mental Health ReviewRead more

Every person with mental illness has a right to equality and non-discrimination including1:  No discrimination on any basis. This includes reasons such as gender, sex, sexual orientation, religion, culture, caste, social or political beliefs, class or disability Emergency facilities and services  of good quality, and  of the same quality and availability as those provided toRead more

Every person with a mental illness has a right to live with dignity. 1 In other words, persons are protected from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in any mental health establishment. This includes the following rights like:2: Living in a safe and hygienic environment Sanitary conditions and provisions for sanitation, space and articles of personalRead more

Every person with a mental illness has a right to1 live with and be a part of the society or community. In other words, just because a person with mental illness has no family or is homeless does not mean that he or she will be institutionalized in a mental health establishment. Sometimes the familyRead more

Every person has the right to access mental health care from government-funded mental healthcare services. These services include1: Acute mental healthcare services like outpatient and inpatient services Half-way homes, sheltered accommodation, supported accommodation Mental health services to support the family of a person with mental illness or home-based rehabilitation Hospital, community-based rehabilitation establishments and servicesRead more

A nominated representative is a person who is appointed by a person with mental illness to discharge the following duties1: Consider the wishes, life history, values, cultural background and the best interests of the person with mental illness, and give importance to his views regarding such decisions. Provide support to the person with mental illnessRead more

An advance directive is a legal document that specifies the healthcare decisions that should be taken for a person in case he or she is not capable of making such decisions. It comes into force when someone no longer has the capacity to make healthcare-related decisions. Once the person regains the ability to make mentalRead more

Persons with mental illness have certain rights 1 that safeguard them from discrimination and harm. These rights are: Right to make an Advance Directive An advance directive is a legal document. In other words, it specifies healthcare decisions that should be taken for a person in the event he or she is not capable ofRead more

Mental illness is a health condition  1  which involves substantial disorder of thinking, mood, perception and orientation or memory. This may lead to gross impairment of judgment, behaviour, capacity to recognise reality or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life. Abuse of drugs or alcohol, for instance, may also result in a mental condition. Read more

If you face any kind of theft, such as theft of personal items or theft during traveling, you can file an FIR with the nearest police station. The police will conduct the required investigation. Please see here to know how to file an FIR.  You can also file an online FIR in some states. Follow theRead more

If a child commits theft, then the punishment for them is lighter than the punishment for an adult. This is usually what happens when a child commits theft: A child may be arrested, but he cannot be kept in the jail – the police must present the child to the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) withinRead more

Theft by a servant or house help is treated more seriously than general punishment for theft as the punishment is higher.  Punishment for the servant/help is jail time of up to 7 years and a fine1.  If you have faced theft by a servant, read here to understand the steps/options you can take to complain.Read more

If someone uses violence, with the use of weapons or not, while stealing, the punishment is higher. Under the law, this is called robbery. The punishment for robbery is1  jail time of up to 10 years and a fine.   When the thief voluntarily causes/attempts to cause death to you, restraints you,  hurts you, or causesRead more

When someone commits theft by breaking into a house, they are punished with a higher penalty. It is a crime if anyone commits theft by: Breaking into any tent, house, etc. which is used for the purpose of living by humans or to store property, they will be punished with jail time of up toRead more

Shoplifting refers to stealing items from a shop or store and not paying for them. For example, Ram and Shyam go to a provision store to steal chocolates and run away without paying for them. In India, shoplifting is governed by the same laws as the general law on theft. Read more here to knowRead more

Pick-pocketing refers to when someone steals items, like your wallet, phone, etc., out of your pocket, bag, etc., and snatching is when someone forcefully snatches away your items from you. Both of these acts are crimes1.  These acts are  punishable with jail time of up to 3 years and/or a fine2. If  you have experiencedRead more

It is an offence to steal from someone while they are travelling1. For example, Ram is in an auto rickshaw, and Sham is on a bike, and Sham snatches away Ram’s bag – this will be considered as theft.  This is punishable with jail time of up to 3 years and/or a fine2. If youRead more

Sometimes, your personal data stored on the computer may be stolen. This is also a form of theft. Identity theft is the act when someone dishonestly steals and uses any unique identifying feature which belongs to you, such as your password, electronic signature, etc. For example, if someone steals your password and uses it toRead more

Taking away someone else’s vehicle(s), like a scooty, car, cycle, etc. without their consent is considered as theft 1. For example, if Ram has parked his car, and Sham takes it away, it will be considered as theft.  This is punishable with  jail time of up to 3 years and/or a fine2. If your vehicle hasRead more

Stealing any animal which is in someone else’s possession is considered as theft 1. This includes dogs, cats, horses, etc. For example, if Ram makes Sham’s dog follow him, it will be considered as theft as soon as the dog starts following Ram.  This is punishable with  jail time of up to 3 years and/orRead more

Theft of electricity happens when someone tampers meters, damages electric meters or equipment, etc.1.  Punishment for Theft of Electricity The punishment for theft of electricity is jail time of up to 3 years and/or a fine.  If the amount of electricity stolen does not exceed 10 kilowatt, then the fine on first offence will beRead more

If anyone helps someone steal, he will be punished with the same penalties as if he had done the act himself 1.  However, if one is helping someone steal, and another act is done, he will be punished for the act done, as if he had the act himself 2. For example, Ram decided toRead more

Sometimes, your personal items like your phone, expensive gadgets, bag, wallet, etc. might be stolen. This is a crime under the law 1 , and the thief can be punished with jail time of up to 3 years and/or a fine 2. Further, in case other factors are at play during the theft, such asRead more