Tripura's State Mental Health Authority has issued show-cause notices to 19 unauthorised private rehabilitation centres in Agartala, accusing them of operating without mandatory registration and flouting prescribed standards under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, according to Health Department officials. The notices were served on 9 September 2026, targeting facilities that were allegedly providing treatment and rehabilitation services to persons with mental illness and drug addiction without valid legal authorisation.

Two Separate Notices, 19 Centres in the Crosshairs

The authority issued two distinct show-cause notices. The first targeted Swapna Foundation, located at Ujan Abhoynagar in Agartala, which was accused of running a mental health or rehabilitation facility without registration from the competent authority. Critically, the notice also referenced allegations that the health of patients at the centre had been adversely affected.

The second notice covered 18 other organisations, all accused of providing treatment and rehabilitation services to persons with mental illness and drug addiction without valid registration or permission under the Act. All 19 centres have been given seven days from receipt of the notice to submit their replies and explain why regulatory action should not be initiated against them.

The authority warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response within the stipulated period, or refusal to cooperate with the investigation, would result in unilateral action being taken against the defaulting organisations.

What the Law Requires

Under Section 65(1) of the Mental Healthcare Act, operating any mental health establishment or rehabilitation centre without registration from the competent authority is explicitly illegal. The Health Department stated that registration is mandatory for all rehabilitation centres functioning in Tripura, and that all such facilities are required to comply with 12 regulations prescribed by the authority.

These regulations cover a range of operational standards including safety measures, food quality, prescribed room dimensions, disability-friendly facilities, biomedical safety, and several other essential requirements. Officials noted that many centres had been found to be non-compliant, raising serious concerns over patient safety and potential violations of patient rights.

The Swapna Foundation Case: Arrest and Death of a Patient

The notices come in the wake of a deeply troubling incident at Swapna Foundation Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre. Tripura Police earlier this month arrested eight people, including the centre's owner, Shubham Biswas, and several staff members, in connection with the alleged assault and subsequent death of a patient.

According to police, Shahana Das Bhattacharjee filed a complaint at the NCC police station on 16 August, alleging that her husband, Tuhinsubhra Bhattacharjee, was assaulted at the centre, where he had been admitted on 9 August. He was subsequently taken to Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

This incident appears to have catalysed regulatory scrutiny across all unregistered facilities in the state, prompting the State Mental Health Authority's broader crackdown.

What Happens Next

If the centres fail to submit satisfactory replies or take corrective measures within the stipulated period, the Health Department has stated that necessary action will be initiated under the provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. The broader question of how many such unregistered facilities operate across India's smaller states — often beyond the reach of routine inspection — is likely to draw renewed national attention following this episode.