Introduction ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ expeditiously place the annual report 2003-04 before Parliament, together with the Memorandum of Action Taken, so that information about the initiatives and activities of the Commission for the preceding year could be made available to the public without undue delay.* 1.5 The Commission had also forwarded copies of the Tenth annual report to all the State Governments/Union Territories as required under Section 20(2) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, for tabling the report in the State Legislature, along with a Memorandum of Action Taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations of the Commission and the reasons for non-acceptance of the recommendations, if any. The Action Taken Report has been received from the States of Karnataka & Gujarat only. Other state Governments have not sent the Action Taken Reports. The confirmation regarding laying the annual report in the State Assemblies, is still awaited. 1.6 In the year 2003-2004 72,990 complaints had been received by the Commission, while 45,512 complaints were pending with the Commission. In all, the Commission disposed of 57,694 complaints during that year. In the current year under review, 74,401 complaints were received by the Commission while 85,661 cases were disposed off during the year. The Commission, thus, took effective steps to deal with the pending cases. 1.7 During the period under review Dr. Justice A.S. Anand continued to serve as the Chairperson with Mr. Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao, Shri R.S. Kalha and Shri P.C. Sharma as members. Dr. Justice Shivaraj V. Patil, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India assumed office as Member on 3rd February, 2005. 1.8 As regards those who are “deemed to be Members of the Commission” under the provisions of Section 3(3) of the Act, Dr. Tarlochan Singh continued in office as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities. Dr. Poornima Advani, Chairperson of National Commission for Women demitted office on 24.1.2005 and Smt. Girija Vyas assumed office as Chairperson on 16.2.2005 and thus, becoming, a deemed member with effect from that date. 1.9 Shri P.S.S. Thomas demitted office as Secretary General on 15.12.2004 and in his place Shri Nirmal Singh, IAS (TN :1970) assumed office as Secretary General on 24.12.2004. Sd/(A.S.Anand) Chairperson Sd/(Shivaraj V.Patil) Member Sd/(Y.Bhaskar Rao) Member Sd/(R.S.Kalha) Member Sd/(P.C.Sharma) Member New Delhi 12th January, 2006 *At the time of printing of this report, the Ministry of Home Affairs apprised that the Annual Report 2003-04 has been tabled in the Parliament on 7 and 8 March 2006 together with the Memorandum of Action Taken. 2 AR-Chapter-1-19-10-6-06.p65 National Human Rights Commission Annual Report - 2004-2005 22 7/17/06, 6:29 PM