The Kerala High Court has ordered a security audit within two weeks at all three mental health centres in the state. This came after a patient escaped from the Thrissur mental health centre on Saturday and stabbed three people. A Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha expressed shock at the incident. They directed the Director of Health Services to submit a detailed report on how patients needing care are housed and protected. The court had started this inquiry on its own after learning from an amicus curiae that no security audit had been done for years at these centres. The court said, "no delay could be brooked, particularly when dealing with people who had no control over their actions." The District Medical Officer of Thrissur was asked to check the health status of those injured, their treatment, and financing for their care. The mental health centres' Superintendents must inform the court about safety measures for doctors, nurses, and other staff. They also have to report details about security personnel. Officials including the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, the Director of Health Services, District Medical Officer of Thrissur, State and District Police Chiefs, and the Superintendents of centres in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode have been involved in the matter. The case is scheduled for a hearing on March 3.