Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires.-

1. (1) "approved institution" means a hospital or a medical or teaching institution approved by the State Government for all or any of the purposes of this Act;
2. (2) "authorised officer" means an officer appointed under section 4;
3. (3) "near relative" means any of the following relatives of the deceased, namely, a wife, husband, parent, son, daughter, brother and sister, and includes any other person who is related to the deceased-
   • (a) by lineal or collateral consanguinity within three degrees in lineal relationship and six degrees in collateral relationship; or
   • (b) by marriage either with the deceased or with any relative specifically mentioned in this clause or with any other relative within the aforesaid degrees; Explanation.- The expression "Lineal and collateral consanguinity" shall have the meanings assigned to them respectively in sections 25 and 26 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925; 1. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see R. H. P. Extra, dated the 28th November, 1968, p. 1160 and for Authoritative Hindi Text see R. H. P. Extra., dated 25.3.1994 p. 422-428. 2. Passed in Hindi by the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. For Statement of Objects and Reasons see R.H.P. Extra., dated 20.12.2010, p. 7498 &5702.
4. (4) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 1[(5) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX]
5. (6) "unclaimed body" means the body of a deceased person who has no near relative or whose body has not been claimed by any of his near relatives within such periods as may be prescribed; 2[(7) "donation of body" means donation of whole body or any part thereof by any person for the purpose of anatomical examination and research.]

³ Subs. for “the Union territory of Himachal Pradesh” by A.O. 1973.