Tamil Nadu seeks comments on mental‑health rules
Tamil Nadu’s State Mental Health Authority published a draft Mental Healthcare Regulations 2026 and opened public comment on standards for care, rights protections, and institutional oversight — a move toward regulatory modernization at the state level. The consultation could reshape service delivery and patient protections in India’s large public system. (medicaldialogues.in)
Tamil Nadu’s State Mental Health Authority set a public‑comment deadline of 30 April 2026 and is accepting submissions by email to tnsmha@gmail.com or by post to the Chief Executive Officer at IMH Campus, Medavakkam Tank Road, Kilpauk, Chennai‑600010 (medicaldialogues.in). (medicaldialogues.in) The draft is titled “Mental Healthcare Regulations 2026” and explicitly adds definitions for terms including “sheltered accommodation” and “supported accommodation.” (medicaldialogues.in). (medicaldialogues.in) M. Malaiappan is named as Chief Executive Officer of the Tamil Nadu State Mental Health Authority and chaired the expert committee tasked with framing minimum standards for mental‑health establishments in the state. (thehindu.com). (thehindu.com) Tamil Nadu’s recent regulatory activity includes the 2025 State Mental Healthcare Minimum Standards for De‑addiction Centres, which mandated SMHA registration, CCTV in shared areas with one‑month retrievable recordings, specific staff qualifications, and a prohibition on physical, mental or sexual abuse. (thehindu.com; newindianexpress.com). (thehindu.com) The legal basis for state‑level rules is Section 123 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which authorises State Mental Health Authorities to “by notification, make regulations” on minimum quality standards, registration forms, fees and related procedures. (indiacode.nic.in; indianKanoon). (indiacode.nic.in) Once the April 30 consultation period ends, the SMHA is expected to revise the draft as needed and publish final regulations by formal notification (gazette) under the State Authority’s powers—a pathway already used for the 2025 de‑addiction standards. (egazette.gov.in; thehindu.com). (egazette.gov.in)
