L. R ; psychological problems. The first Child Guidance Clinic in India was started in Mumbai in 1938 by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The Children's Act for juvenile offenders was enacted in 1960, which later was replaced by the Juvenile Justice Act in 1989. Let us now, understand the current status of forensic psychiatry in India. At present it is a new and developing field but the relationship between psychiatry and law has started taking momentum ever since the Indian Mental Health Act was passed in 1987. One can take a stock of things in three different areas 1) Legal and Clinical 2) Teaching and Training and 3) Research. 1) Legal: Mental health legislation is an essential part in the overall mental health program of a country and is widely recognized as critical factor which can either impede or facilitate development of mental health services. It reflects the attitude of the people towards mental health problem of the country, resources and available manpower in the country which can be utilized by proper planning for the implementation of the policies The law if not enacted and interpreted in accordance with actual program can force alteration in service and create barriers between the program and the people who need services. Indian Mental Health Act,1987, unlike Indian Lunacy Act recognizes the crucial role of treatment in the care of the mentally ill person. It also incorporates the newer knowledge and recent concepts in the field of mental health. It discards the outdated concept of custodial care and segregation of mental patients from the community For the first time it brings out judicial safeguards for patients' rights. It introduces humanitarian considerations to prevent any indignity and cruelty to the mentally ill. There is explicit protection of their human rights. The admission and discharge procedures have been simplified The Act has also made an attempt to bring mental illnesses at par with other physical illnesses, thus reducing the stigma attached to mental illnesses. The Act separates out the mentally ill person who is in need of treatment by reason, from the mentally retarded. It recommends outpatient treatment facilities. It recommends an authority to be established for mental health at the central and state level. It envisages rules regarding establishment of psychiatric hospitals and nursing homes. There is separate mention of judicial inquisition regarding alleged mentally ill person possessing property, his custody and management of his property, outlining various related procedures and penalties. Dutta (1985) mentions about certain controversies in certain sections : i) That plea of insanity is generally brought forward in charges of murder in order to escape capital punishment. The crucial point of time at which unsoundness of mind should be established is the time when the crime is actually committed. The accused has to prove that, but if the psychiatric examination of the accused is done long after the commission of the offense it can frustrate the objective of this section 84 IPC. In some courts judgments are given on non criminal mentally ill persons to be detained in jails. In this country there are several such people detained in jails for years together violating all provisions of law and human rights enjoyed by the sick persons. They are kept in much worse conditions than animals in a zoo. In 1982, 1267 mentally ill prisoners were kept in different jails in West Bengal for years of which 98% (1242) were non criminal patients, though the reception order allows a police person to detain any one under trial for 24 hours only. The term' dangerous by reason of lunacy' has not been defined clearly by law, hence it gets interpreted in any manner by police and magistrate. Let us hope with help of Indian Mental Health Act, 1987, this situation gets corrected Dr.A.B. Dutt has been fighting for the human rights of the mentally ill people, ii) As the problem of drug addiction reached its peak during the 80s, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 came into force. Trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs is considered an offense for which if found guilty 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1 lakh is given. If the offence is committed second time the punishment is 20 years rigorous 182