1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Protection of Human
Rights Act, 1993.
(2) It extends to the whole of India:
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(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 28th day of September, 1993.
2. Definitions.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “armed forces” means the naval, military and air forces and includes any other armed forces
of the Union;
(b) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Commission or of the State Commission, as the
case may be;
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[(ba) “Chief Commissioner” means the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities
referred to in sub-section (1) of section 74 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of
2016);]
(c) “Commission” means the National Human Rights Commission constituted under section 3;
(d) “Human Rights” means the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the
individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and
enforceable by courts in India;
(e) “Human Rights Court” means the Human Rights Court specified under section 30;
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[(f) “International Covenants” means the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted by the General
Assembly of the United Nations on the 16th December, 1966 and such other Covenant or Convention
adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations as the Central Government may, by
notification, specify;]
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[(g) “Member” means a Member of the Commission or of the State Commission, as the case
may be;]
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[(ga) “National Commission for Backward Classes” means the National Commission for
Backward Classes constituted under section 3 of the National Commission for Backward Classes Act,
1993 (27 of 1993);]
(h) “National Commission for Minorities” means the National Commission for Minorities
constituted under section 3 of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 (19 of 1992);
1. The proviso omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule (w.e.f. 31-10-2019).
2. Ins. by Act 19 of 2019, s. 2 (w.e.f. 2-8-2019).
3. Subs. by Act 43 of 2006, s. 2, for clause (f) (w.e.f. 23-11-2006).
4. Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for clause (g) (w.e.f. 23-11-2006).
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[(ha) “National Commission for Protection of Child Rights” means the National Commission for
Protection of Child Rights constituted under section 3 of the Commissions for Protection of Child
Rights Act, 2005 (4 of 2006);]
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[(i) “National Commission for the Scheduled Castes” means the National Commission for the
Scheduled Castes referred to in article 338 of the Constitution;
(ia) “National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes” means the National Commission for the
Scheduled Tribes referred to in article 338A of the Constitution;]
(j) “National Commission for Women” means the National Commission for Women constituted
under section 3 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 (20 of 1990);
(k) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(l) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(m) “public servant” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 21 of the Indian Penal Code
(45 of 1860);
(n) “State Commission” means a State Human Rights Commission constituted under section 21.
(2) Any reference in this Act to a law, which is not in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir,
shall, in relation to that State, be construed as a reference to a corresponding law, if any, in force in that
State.
STATE AMENDMENT
Ladakh (UT).—
Section 2.—Omit sub-section (2).
[Vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification
No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020).]