Expressing concern that 475 patients are in the state’s four regional mental hospitals for more than 10 years, the Bombay high court has sought information about their fitness and asked whether they need to remain in hospital. The court has emphasized the importance of reviewing the cases of patients who have been hospitalized for a decade or longer. This issue was brought to the court’s attention through a public interest litigation filed by a city psychiatrist. The State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) provided data collected from mental hospitals in Nagpur, Thane, Pune, and Ratnagiri, which revealed that 1,649 patients are deemed unfit for discharge, and 475 patients have been in hospitals for more than 10 years. The court has directed the review boards to supply information on whether these patients have been reviewed in the preceding three months, their fitness, and the necessity for their continued stay. In addition, the court has instructed the government to expedite the discharge of fit patients who are held up due to procedural compliance. The court also noted a lack of awareness of patients’ rights and the need for SMHA to initiate awareness campaigns. Efforts are being made to educate patients and their relatives about their rights, and NGOs are encouraged to complement this work. The court will take up the issue of prisoners with mental illness in October.