NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) covers the period from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017. It is the twenty-fourth Annual Report of the Commission. 1.2 The twenty-third Annual Report of the Commission, covering the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, was submitted to the Central Government on 29 June 2017 for preparing the Memorandum of Action Taken and placing the same before each House of Parliament in accordance with the procedure laid down under Section 20 of the “Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993” and its amendment thereby in September 2006 (PHRA). 1.3 During the period under review, Justice Shri H. L. Dattu, former Chief Justice of India continued to serve as Chairperson in the Commission. Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph (former Judge of Supreme Court of India) demitted the office on 27.01.2017, Justice Shri D. Murugesan (former Chief Justice of High Court of Delhi) and Shri S. C. Sinha (former Director General, National Investigation Agency) continued to serve as Members in the Commission. 1.4 Dr. Satya Narayan Mohanty, IAS (1980: Telangana Cadre) continued to serve as Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of NHRC. Shri J.S. Kochher and Dr. Ranjit Singh continued to be the Joint Secretary (Training & Research) and Joint Secretary (Programme & Administration), respectively. Shri C. K. Chaturvedi continued to serve the Commission in his capacity as Registrar (Law) upto 28 February 2017. Thereafter, Shri A. K. Koul, former Registrar, J&K High Court, joined the Commission as Registrar (Law). 1.5 As provided in Section 3 (3) of the PHRA, Prof. (Dr.) Ramshankar Katheria, the Chairperson of the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes, Shri Nand Kumar Sai, the Chairperson of the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes, Shri Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities and Smt. Rekha Sharma, the Member Additional Charge Chairperson of the National Commission for Women continued to be deemed Members of the NHRC for the discharge of functions specified in clauses (b) to (j) of Section 12 of the PHRA. ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 1