Section 34:
Composition of Central Authority.
(1) The Central Authority shall consist of the following,
namely:—
(a) Secretary or Additional Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Health and
Family Welfare—chairperson ex officio;
(b) Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Health and Family Welfare,
in charge of mental health—member ex officio;
(c) Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and
Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy—member ex officio;
(d) Director General of Health Services—member ex officio;
(e) Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Disability Affairs of the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment—member ex officio;
(f) Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Women and Child
Development—member ex officio;
(g) Directors of the Central Institutions for Mental Health—members ex officio;
(h) such other ex officio representatives from the relevant Central Government Ministries or
Departments;
(i) one mental health professional as defined in item (iii) of clause (r) of sub-section (1) of
section 2 having at least fifteen years experience in the field, to be nominated by the Central
Government—member;
(j) one psychiatric social worker having at least fifteen years experience in the field, to be
nominated by the Central Government—member;
(k) one clinical psychologist having at least fifteen years experience in the field, to be nominated
by the Central Government—member;
(l) one mental health nurse having at least fifteen years experience in the field of mental health, to
be nominated by the Central Government—member;
(m) two persons representing persons who have or have had mental illness, to be nominated by
the Central Government—members;
(n) two persons representing care-givers of persons with mental illness or organisations
representing care-givers, to be nominated by the Central Government—members;
(o) two persons representing non-governmental organisations which provide services to persons
with mental illness, to be nominated by the Central Government—members;
(p) two persons representing areas relevant to mental health, if considered necessary.
(2) The members referred to in clauses (h) to (p) of sub-section (1), shall be nominated by the
Central Government in such manner as may be prescribed.