Annual Report 2012-2013 mentally ill persons lodged there. The State Governments/Union Territory Administrators were also requested to apprise the Commission periodically on the progress of implementation of the recommendations made by it, a matter which it continues to pursue till date and keeps the Apex Court informed about it. The Commission, on its own, took the responsibility of monitoring all the mental hospitals in the country. 5.9 In 2003-2004, the Commission also constituted a 'Core Group on Mental Health' and formulated guidelines on reporting of every death that took place in mental health hospitals in Agra, Gwalior and Ranchi. Prior to this, in February 2000, the Chairperson of the Commission wrote a letter to all the Chief Ministers recommending that directions be issued to senior prison officers to regularly inspect prisons, so as to ensure that mentally challenged persons were not kept in jails under any circumstances. In 2001-2002, the Commission directed the Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all the States/Union Territories to certify that no mentally ill patients were chained and kept in captivity. The Core Group on Mental Health, during 2007-2008 also made a series of recommendations on the issue of mental health. Prominent among them being - the basic needs of mentally ill persons should be met and they should have access to all entitlements such as old age pension which are available to ordinary citizens. 5.10 During 2008-2009, the Commission brought out a report on mental health entitled "Mental Health Care and Human Rights". The report throws light on the latest developments in mental health care in India since the initial involvement of the NHRC through the "Quality Assurance in Mental Health" report. 5.11 In 2011-2012, the Commission directed the Director Generals of Police and Chief Secretaries of all the States/Union Territories to take appropriate steps for proper implementation of the Mental Health Act, 1987. The Commission, in particular, recommended for implementation of Section 23 of the Mental Health Act, 1987, which lays down powers and duties of police officers in respect of certain mentally ill persons. Under this Section of the Mental Health Act, the police have an obligation to take into protective custody a wandering or neglected mentally ill person, inform his/her relative and also produce such person before the local magistrate for issue of reception orders within a stipulated period of time. National Seminar on Human Rights and Mental Health Care 5.12 With a view to highlight the challenges relating to mental health issues and to sensitize people on those issues, the Commission organized a Seminar on 'Human Rights and Mental Health Care' on 10 October 2012, which is observed as World Mental Health Day, at India International Centre, New Delhi. The seminar was inaugurated by Justice Shri K. G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC. It was attended by Directors of Mental Health Institutions, experts, students of medical and social work, representatives of NGOs working in the area of mental health care. Some of the important suggestions/recommendations that emerged from the seminar were viz., mental health programme needs to be made NHRC 67