3.25 As indicated in the report of the previous year, the Commission set up a Group of Forensic Experts to prepare a set of instructions to guide the doctom conducting post-mortem examinations, The panel of forensic experts has prepared the guidelines for video-filming of post-mortem examinations titled 'Instructions for Doctors Conducting the Post-Mortem' and a format for scrutiny of the video cassettes of custodial deaths. These are being circulated. (E) VISITS TO POLICE LOCK-UPS The Commission has the powers, under section 12(c) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to visit any jail or institution where persons are detained. In exercise of its powers the Commission directed the Secretary General to inform all the States of its decision to undertake surprise visits to police lock-ups in various States through officers designated by it,Ttw Secretary General's letter of 1 August 1997 on this matter requested the States to issue suitable directions to the competent police authorities to facllltate such surprise visits. So far, 29 Statedunion Territories have acted on this proposal. Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur and Daman & Diu are yet to respond and it is recommended that they do so at an early date. During the past year, officers of the Commission have visited a number of lock-ups in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar and made a series of observations which are being attended to in consultation with the competent State authorities. 3.26 (F) SYSTEMIC REFORMS: POLICE 3.27 Persistent efforts by the Commission, since its inception, have helped to highlight police reforms as a major area needing national attention, as such reforms are central to issues of good governance and a better respect for human rights. As a result of interaction between the Commission and Ministry of Home Affairs, the then Minister of Home Affairs addressed a letter to all Chief Ministers in April 1997, suggesting early action to implement certain key recommendations of the Second Police Commission and the Natlonal Human Rights Commission. He had in his letter stated, inter alia, that the Central Government was "engaged in the irrplementation of some of the basic recommendations which lie within our jurisdiction; vk., in the Union Territories and other centrally administered areas." 3.28 The question of police reform is also being pursued in a case pending before the Supreme Cowt, in which the Commission has been impleaded as a party. The comprehensive affidavit and other submissions that the Commission filed before the Supreme Court may be seen in an annex to the annual report of the Commission for 1997-98. Following a directive of the Supreme Court in this case, the Ministry of Home Affairs appointed a Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. J.F.Ribeiro, a distinguished former member of the Indian Police Service, to review and suggest ways and means for the 3.29