The Mental Healthcare Act (MHA) 2017 received the Assent of the President of India on 7th April, 2017 and the Final Rules were notified on 29th May, 2018 by Govt. of India in the Official Gazette and MHA, 2017 was declared to have ‘come into force’. In the Chapter VIII (Section 45-56), of MHA- 2017 the provisions regarding establishment, composition and constitution, functions of SMHA and other important Sections regarding SMHA have been mentioned.

As per Section 126 (2) (b) (c) (d) and as per the SMHA meetings held under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary (H&FW), GNCTD, It was decided that as an interim arrangement the SMHA Secretariat will continue to function from IHBAS with Dr. Nimesh G. Desai, Director, IHBAS and Member Secretary of SMHA to continue working as the CEO of SMHA.