3 instructions of the Commisskn, States and Union Territories reported a total of 1297 cases of custodial death in the course of 199899, of which 1114 occurred in jail custody. The large 'number of deaths reported in jail custody emphasises, once again, the urgent need for prison reform including arrangements for better health care of prisoners which are matters of the highest concern to the Commission and on which it has, both in the past and in this report, made a number of specific recommendations. The increase in the number of complaints received by the Commission has confirmed 16.4 the necessity of constituting Single-Membr Benches to deal with the complaints of the Commission. Important cases, as in the past, continued to receive the attention of the Full Commission. The Practice Directions of the Chairperson, to which detailed reference was made in the preceding report, continued to guide the Commission in the handling of its heavy work-load. It is increasingly evident, however, that there is need to handle certain categories of matters at a level below that of the Members of the Commission, so as to release the capacity of the Members to deal more fully with the totality and variety of functions entrusted to the Commission under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. As pointed out earlier in this report, this is one of the matters that is receiving the atlention of the Ahmadi Committee. (B) INVESTIGATION OF CASES 16.5 During the year 1998-99, the Commission directed its lnvestigation Division to look into 2,269 complaints, of which 2,114 cases called for the 'collection of facts & rnonitoring'and 155 called for field investigations. Of these complaints, 1,946 cases of fact collection and 140 case of spot enquiries were disposed of. As hitherto, as and when necessary and desirable, offlcers of the lnvestigation Division associated NGOs and the petitioners in the work of investigation. NGO representatives continued to furnish most useful information and help to the officers of the lnvestigation Division in examining victims, particularly those who were from vulnerable or disadvantaged sections of society. f 6.6 Despite continuing shortage of staff and an increasing workload, the Commission's investigating officers discharged these responsibilities within the time limits set for them by the Commission. On the basis of reporta given expressty by officersof the lnvestigation Divtsion during the year 1998-99, criminal prosecutions have been launched against 39 persons. Departmental action has been taken against 40 officials and compensation awarded in 8 cases. 16.7 As hitherto, when the Commission has been dissatisfied with tbe initial reports of agencies of the State ~overnrnent,it has asked that the Stats CID or the Central Bureau of lnvestigation (CEII) take up investigation of such cases, with the lnvestigation Division being asked to monitor progress.