Section 2 — Definitions.

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;  

2
[(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; 

3
[(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;] 

2
[(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). 



4 
 

1
[(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);] 

2
[(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).] 

CHAPTER II 

THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION