Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) "authorised officer" means an officer authorised under Section 3; (b) "hospital" means any hospital established or maintained by the State Government or by local body and includes any other hospital which may be declared by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette, to be a hospital for the purposes of this Act; (c) "near relative" means any of the following relatives of the deceased, namely, a wife, husband, parents, son, daughter, brother or sister and includes any other person who is related to the deceased (i) by lineal consanguinity within three degrees, or by collateral consanguinity within six degrees, or (ii) by marriage with any of the relatives aforesaid; Explanation. The expression "lineal consanguinity" and "collateral consanguinity" shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indian Succession Act, 1925 and degrees of relationship shall be computed in the manner laid down in that Act. (d) "person interested" means a near relative or any other person who is interested in disposal of the body of the deceased person in accordance with the religious usage or social customs of such deceased person; (e) "prescribed" means as prescribed by rules made under this Act; (f) "State Government" means the State Government of Manipur; (g) "teaching medical institution" means any of the institutions as may be declared by the State Government, by notification in the official Gazette, to be teaching medical institution for the purposes of this Act; (h) "unclaimed body" means the body of a person who dies in a hospital, prison or public place, which has not been claimed by any of his near relatives or personal friends within such time as may be prescribed.