Ei^ht Quality Assurance In Mental Hospitals 8.1 TTie Commbsion remained seized with the problems of overcrowding, lack of basic amenities and poar medical facilities plaguing the mental hospitals in the country. It had earlier entrusted a research project on 'Quality Assurance in Mental Hospitals' to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore. Following the submission of a reoort on this subject by the project Director, Dr. S.M. Channabasavanna, the report was refeased to the public by the Union Home Minister Shri L.K. Advani on 11 June 1999. A opy of the report was handed to the Union Minister of State for Health Shri Dalit Ezhilmalai. Copies of the report were also sent to all the mental hospitals and to the State Heal h Secretaries for necessary follow up action. TTiey were requested to apprise the Commission periodically on the progress of implementation of the measures recommended in the report, a matter which the Commission is pursuing. 8.2 The CommBsion believes that implementation of the measures recommended in the project repoa would result in the protection of the rights of a group too often neglected. It urges this be done expeditiously. 8.3 The management of the mental hospitals in Ranchi, Agra and Gwalior came under the scrutiny of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India through Writ Petition No. 339/86, and Writ Petition Nos. 901/93, 80/94 and 448/94. By its order dated 11 November 1997, the Hon'ble Suprsme Court requested the National Human Rights Commission to be involved in the suoervision of the functioning of these three mental hospitals, in the same manner as in resoect of the Agra Protective Home. 8.4 Upon being entrusted with this work, the Commission examined the scope and objectives of the remit of the Supreme Court, as also the manner in which the Commission should set about fulfilling the responsibilities assigned to it. The Commission thereafter, constituted a Cen ral Advisory Group headed by the Chairperson of the Commission for the purpose of ackising the Commission on the nature of the duties and responsibilities envisaged by the order of the Supreme Court; the various steps to be taken to achieve these objectives aid to review the progress of work. Shri Sudarshan Agarwal, Member; Shri N. Gopalaswami, Secretary General; Shri R.V. Pillai, former Secretary General,