The Joint Secretary of the Commission, Smt. Lakshmi Singh, left the Commission on 13 October 1999 after completing her tenure of five years. The entire Commission bid her a fond farewell on 12 October 1999. In expressing appreciation of her immense contribution, the Chairperson stated that, after working in the Commission, she would be going back to her parent state, Bihar, which urgently required a State-level Human Rights Commission. He hoped that her presence in the State would enhance human rights awareness in Bihar and expedite the process of setting up a State Human Rights Commission.