(1)The Central Government shall establish an Authority for mental health with such designation as it may deem fit.(2)The Authority established under sub-section (1) shall be subject to the superintendence, direction and control of the Central Government.(3)The Authority established under sub-section (1) shall(a)be in charge of regulation, development, direction and co-ordination with respect to Mental Health Services under the Central Government and all other matters which, under this Act, are the concern of the Central Government or any officer or authority subordinate to the Central Government;(b)supervise the psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric nursing homes and other Mental Health Service Agencies (including places in which mentally ill persons may be kept or detained) under the control of the Central Government;(c)advise the Central Government on all matters relating to mental health; and(d)discharge such other functions with respect to matters relating to mental health as the Central Government may require.Explanation. For the purposes of this section and section 4, Mental Health Services include, in addition to psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric nursing homes, observation wards, day-care centres, inpatient treatment in general hospitals, ambulatory treatment facilities and other facilities, convalescent homes and half-way-homes for mentally ill persons.
