Chapter - 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This is the eighteenth Annual Report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). It covers the period from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. 1.2 The seventeenth Annual Report of the Commission, for the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, was submitted to the Central Government on 12 May 2011 and the State Governments on 23 June 2011 for preparing the Memorandum of Action Taken and placing the same before each House of Parliament and concerned State Legislative Assembly in consonance with the procedure envisaged under Section 20 (2) 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 G. P. Mathur, Member NHRC, continued to officiate as the Acting Chairperson of NHRC till the time Justice Shri K. G. Balakrishnan, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, assumed office as the sixth Chairperson of the Commission on 7 June 2010. On the joining of Justice Shri K. G. Balakrishnan as the Chairperson of the NHRC, Justice Shri G.P. Mathur continued to serve as a Member in the Commission along with three other Members, namely, Justice Shri B.C. Patel, Shri Satyabrata Pal and Shri P.C. Sharma during 2010-2011. 1.4 As regards deemed Members of the Commission, under Section 3 (3) of the PHRA for discharge of its functions specified in clauses (b) to (j) of Section 12, Dr P. L. Punia, assumed office as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on 15 October 2010; Dr Rameshwar Oraon took over as the new Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes on 28 October 2010; and Shri Wajahat Habibullah assumed duties on 3 February 2011 as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities. Dr Girija Vyas continued to serve as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women during 20102011. 1.5 Shri Kuriamplackal Sankar Money, IAS (RJ:76) who joined on 15 February 2010 as the Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NHRC continued to render his services till he retired on 28 February 2011. Shri Sunil Krishna, IPS (UP:73) continued to serve as Director General (Investigation) and Shri A.K. Garg as Registrar (Law) in the NHRC. Shri J.P. Meena, IAS (AM:83) continued to function as Joint Secretary (Programme &Administration) in the NHRC. Shri J. S. Kochher, an officer of the Indian Economic Service, joined the NHRC on deputation as Joint Secretary (Training) on 15 November 2010. NHRC