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The probe would be conducted by a retired district judge, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa told reporters in Madras after discussions with officials on the measures taken to regulate the functioning of private mental asylums in the state, in the context of the mishap at Erwadi.
Jayalalithaa said it had also been decided to immediately close down all 16 homes located around Erwadi. All mental asylums functioning in thatched sheds in other parts of the state would also be closed down immediately, she added.
"Those who are actually mentally ill will be admitted to mental institutions run by the state government. Those who are not, will be returned to their families," she said.
In future, licences would have to be obtained before starting such homes while existing homes would be given one month's time to obtain licences, the chief minister informed.
Stating that all district collectors would undertake an immediate inspection of mental asylums in their respective districts, Jayalalithaa said monitoring committees would be formed in each district, headed by the district collector, for periodic inspections of mental asylums.
These would comprise joint director (health), trained psychiatrists and other persons from the medical profession.
RELATED REPORTS: Mental asylum fire toll rises to 28: PTI Erwadi asylums closed; 500 inmates freed
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