THE MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT, 1971

SECTIONS

1. Short title, extent and commencement.

2. Definitions.
3. When pregnancies may be terminated by registered medical practitioners.
4. Place where pregnancy may be terminated.
5. Sections 3 and 4 when not to apply.
5A. Protection of privacy of a woman.
6. Power to make rules.
7. Power to make regulations.
8. Protection of action taken in good faith.

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

(a) “guardian” means a person having the care of the person of a minor or a 3
[mentally ill person];
[(aa) “Medical Board” means the Medical Board constituted under sub-section (2C) of section 3
of the Act;]
[(b) “mentally ill person” means a person who is in need of treatment by reason of any mental
disorder other than mental retardation;]
(c) “minor” means a person who, under the provisions of the Indian Majority Act, 1875 (9 of
1875), is to be deemed not to have attained his majority;
(d) “registered medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner who possesses any recognised
medical qualification as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956
(102 of 1956), whose name has been entered in a State Medical Register and who has such experience
or training in gynaecology and obstetrics as may be prescribed by rules made under this Act.
(e) “termination of pregnancy” means a procedure to terminate a pregnancy by using medical or
surgical methods.
 THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005

1. Short title, extent and commencement.

2. Definitions.
3. Definitions of domestic violence.
4. Information to Protection Officer and exclusion of liability of informant.
5. Duties of police officers, service providers and Magistrate.
6. Duties of shelter homes.
7. Duties of medical facilities.
8. Appointment of Protection Officers.
9. Duties and functions of Protection Officers.
10. Service providers.
11. Duties of Government.
12. Application of Magistrate.
13. Service of notice.
14. Counselling.
15. Assistance of welfare expert.
16. Proceedings to be held in camera.
17. Right to reside in a shared household.
18. Protection orders.
19. Residence orders.
20. Monetary reliefs.
21. Custody orders.
22. Compensation orders.
23. Power to grant interim and ex parte orders.
24. Court to give copies of order free of cost.
25. Duration of orders.
26. Relief in other suits and legal proceedings.
27. Jurisdiction.
28. Procedure.
29. Appeal.
30. Protection Officers and members of service providers to be public servants.
31. Penalty for breach of protection order by respondent.
32. Cognizance and proof.
33. Penalty for not discharging duty by Protection Officers.
34. Cognizance of offence committed by Protection Officer.
35. Protection of action taken in good faith.
36. Act not in derogation of any other law.
37. Power of Central Government to make rules.

Section 2. Definitions- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

(a) “aggrieved person” means any woman who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the
respondent and who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic violence by the respondent;
(b) “child” means any person below the age of eighteen years and includes any adopted, step or
foster child;
(c) “compensation order” means an order granted in terms of section 22;
(d) “custody order” means an order granted in terms of section 21;
(e) “domestic incident report” means a report made in the prescribed form on receipt of a complaint
of domestic violence from an aggrieved person;
(f) “domestic relationship” means a relationship between two persons who live or have, at any point
of time, lived together in a shared household, when they are related by consanguinity, marriage, or
through a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or are family members living together as a
joint family;
(g) “domestic violence” has the same meaning as assigned to it in section 3;
(h) “dowry” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act,
1961 (28 of 1961);
(i) “Magistrate” means the Judicial Magistrate of the first class, or as the case may be, the
Metropolitan Magistrate, exercising jurisdiction under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973(2 of
1974) in the area where the aggrieved person resides temporarily or otherwise or the respondent
resides or the domestic violence is alleged to have taken place;
(j) “medical facility” means such facility as may be notified by the State Government to be a medical
facility for the purposes of this Act;
(k) “monetary relief” means the compensation which the Magistrate may order the respondent to
pay to the aggrieved person, at any stage during the hearing of an application seeking any relief under
this Act, to meet the expenses incurred and the losses suffered by the aggrieved person as a result of
the domestic violence;
(l) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression “notified”
shall be construed accordingly;
(m) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(n) “Protection Officer” means an officer appointed by the State Government under sub-section (1)
of section 8;
(o) “protection order” means an order made in terms of section 18;
(p) “residence order” means an order granted in terms of sub-section (1) of section 19;
(q) “respondent” means any adult male person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship
with the aggrieved person and against whom the aggrieved person has sought any relief under this
Act:
Provided that an aggrieved wife or female living in a relationship in the nature of a marriage may
also file a complaint against a relative of the husband or the male partner;
(r) “service provider” means an entity registered under sub-section (1) of section 10;
(s) “shared household” means a household where the person aggrieved lives or at any stage has lived
in a domestic relationship either singly or along with the respondent and includes such a house hold
whether owned or tenanted either jointly by the aggrieved person and the respondent, or owned or
tenanted by either of them in respect of which either the aggrieved person or the respondent or both
jointly or singly have any right, title, interest or equity and includes such a household which may
belong to the joint family of which the respondent is a member, irrespective of whether the respondent
or the aggrieved person has any right, title or interest in the shared household;
(t) “shelter home” means any shelter home as may be notified by the State Government to be as
shelter home for the purposes of this Act.
 THE MAINTENANCE AND WELFARE OF PARENTS AND SENIOR
CITIZENS ACT, 2007
1. Short title, extent, application and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Act to have overriding effect.
4. Maintenance of parents and senior citizens.
5. Application for maintenance.
6. Jurisdiction and procedure.
7. Constitution of Maintenance Tribunal.
8. Summary procedure in case of inquiry.
9. Order for maintenance.
10. Alteration in allowance.
11. Enforcement of order of maintenance.
12. Option regarding maintenance in certain cases.
13. Deposit of maintenance amount.
14. Award of interest where any claim is allowed.
15. Constitution of Appellate Tribunal.
16. Appeals.
17. Right to legal representation.
18. Maintenance Officer.
19. Establishment of old age homes.
20. Medical support for senior citizens.
21. Measures for publicity, awareness, etc., for welfare of senior citizens.
22. Authorities who may be specified for implementing the provisions of this Act.
23. Transfer of property to be void in certain circumstances.
24. Exposure and abandonment of senior citizen.
25. Cognizance of offences.
CHAPTER VII- MISCELLANEOUS
26. Officers to be public servants.
27. Jurisdiction of civil courts barred.
28. Protection of action taken in good faith.
29. Power to remove difficulties.
30. Power of Central Government to give directions.
31. Power of Central Government to review.
32. Power of State Government to make rules.

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

(a) “children” includes son, daughter, grandson and grand-daughter but does not include a minor;
(b) “maintenance” includes provisions for food, clothing, residence and medical attendance and
treatment;
(c) “minor” means a person who, under the provisions of the Majority Act, 1875 (9 of 1875) is
deemed not to have attained the age of majority;
(d) “parent” means father or mother whether biological, adoptive or step father or step mother, as the
case may be, whether or not the father or the mother is a senior citizen;
(e) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made by the State Government under this Act;
(f) “property” means property of any kind, whether movable or immovable, ancestral or self
acquired, tangible or intangible and includes rights or interests in such property;
(g) “relative” means any legal heir of the childless senior citizen who is not a minor and is in
possession of or would inherit his property after his death;
(h) “senior citizen” means any person being a citizen of India, who has attained the age of sixty years
or above;
(i) “State Government”, relation to a Union territory, means the administrator thereof appointed under
article 239 of the Constitution;
(j) “Tribunal” means the Maintenance Tribunal constituted under section 7;
(k) “welfare” means provision for food, health care, recreation centres and other amenities necessary
for the senior citizens.

THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012

1. Short title, extent and commencement.

2. Definitions.
3. Penetrative sexual assault.
4. Punishment for penetrative sexual assault.
5. Aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
6. Punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
7. Sexual assault.
8. Punishment for sexual assault.
9. Aggravated sexual assault.
10. Punishment for aggravated sexual assault.
11. Sexual harassment.
12. Punishment for sexual harassment.
13. Use of child for pornographic purposes.
14. Punishment for using child for pornographic purposes.
15. Punishment for storage of pornographic material involving child.
16. Abetment of an offence.
17. Punishment for abetment.
18. Punishment for attempt to commit an offence.
19. Reporting of offences.
20. Obligation of media, studio and photographic facilities to report cases.
21. Punishment for failure to report or record a case.
22. Punishment for false complaint or false information.
23. Procedure for media.
24. Recording of statement of a child.
25. Recording of statement of a child by Magistrate.
26. Additional provisions regarding statement to be recorded.
27. Medical examination of a child.
28. Designation of Special Courts.
29. Presumption as to certain offences.
30. Presumption of culpable mental state.
31. Application of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to proceedings before a Special Court.
32. Special Public Prosecutors.
33. Procedure and powers of Special Court.
34. Procedure in case of commission of offence by child and determination of age by Special Court.
35. Period for recording of evidence of child and disposal of case.
36. Child not to see accused at the time of testifying.
37. Trials to be conducted in camera.
38. Assistance of an interpreter or expert while recording evidence of child.
CHAPTER IX- MISCELLANEOUS
39. Guidelines for child to take assistance of experts, etc.
40. Right of child to take assistance of legal practitioner.
41. Provisions of sections 3 to 13 not to apply in certain cases.
42. Alternative punishment.
42A. Act not in derogation of any other law.
43. Public awareness about Act.
44. Monitoring of implementation of Act.
45. Power to make rules.
46. Power to remove difficulties.

2. Definitions- (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, —

(a) "aggravated penetrative sexual assault" has the same meaning as assigned to it in section 5;
(b) "aggravated sexual assault" has the same meaning as assigned to it in section 9;
(c) "armed forces or security forces" means armed forces of the Union or security forces or police
forces, as specified in the Schedule;
(d) "child" means any person below the age of eighteen years;
[(da) "child pornography" means any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child
which include photograph, video, digital or computer-generated image indistinguishable from an
actual child and image created, adapted, or modified, but appear to depict a child;]
(e) "domestic relationship" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (f) of section 2 of
the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (43 of 2005);
(f) "penetrative sexual assault" has the same meaning as assigned to it in section 3;
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(h) “religious institution” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in the Religious Institutions
(Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988 (41 of 1988).
(i) "sexual assault" has the same meaning as assigned to it in section 7;
(j) "sexual harassment" has the same meaning as assigned to it in section 11;
(k) "shared household" means a household where the person charged with the offence lives or has
lived at any time in a domestic relationship with the child;
(l) "Special Court" means a court designated as such under section 28;
(m) "Special Public Prosecutor" means a Public Prosecutor appointed under section 32.
(2) The words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Indian Penal Code (45
of 1860), the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), [the Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016)] and the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of
2000) shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the said Codes or the Acts.
 THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2016

1. Short title and commencement.

2. Definitions.
3. Equality and non-discrimination.
4. Women and children with disabilities.
5. Community life.
6. Protection from cruelty and inhuman treatment.
7. Protection from abuse, violence and exploitation.
8. Protection and safety.
9. Home and family.
10. Reproductive rights.
11. Accessibility in voting.
12. Access to justice.
13. Legal capacity.
14. Provision for guardianship.
15. Designation of authorities to support.
16. Duty of educational institutions.
17. Specific measures to promote and facilitate inclusive education.
18. Adult education.
19. Vocational training and self-employment.
20. Non-discrimination in employment.
21. Equal opportunity policy.
22. Maintenance of records.
23. Appointment of Grievance Redressal Officer.
24. Social security.
25. Healthcare.
26. Insurance schemes.
27. Rehabilitation.
28. Research and development.
29. Culture and recreation.
30. Sporting activities.
31. Free education for children with benchmark disabilities.
32. Reservation in higher educational institutions.
33. Identification of posts for reservation.
34. Reservation.
35. Incentives to employers in private sector.
36. Special employment exchange.
37. Special schemes and development programmes.
38. Special provisions for persons with disabilities with high support.
39. Awareness campaigns.
40. Accessibility.
41. Access to transport.
42. Access to information and communication technology.
43. Consumer goods.
44. Mandatory observance of accessibility norms.
45. Time limit for making existing infrastructure and premises accessible and action for that
purpose.
46. Time limit for accessibility by service providers.
47. Human resource development.
48. Social audit.
49. Competent authority.
50. Registration.
51. Application and grant of certificate of registration.
52. Revocation of registration.
53. Appeal.
54. Act not to apply to institutions established or maintained by Central or State Government.
55. Assistance to registered institutions.
56. Guidelines for assessment of specified disabilities.
57. Designation of certifying authorities.
58. Procedure for certification.
59. Appeal against a decision of certifying authority.
60. Constitution of Central Advisory Board on Disability.
61. Terms and conditions of service of members.
62. Disqualifications.
63. Vacation of seats by Members.
64. Meetings of the Central Advisory Board on disability.
65. Functions of Central Advisory Board on disability.
66. State Advisory Board on disability.
67. Terms and conditions of service of Members.
68. Disqualification.
69. Vacation of seats.
70. Meetings of State Advisory Board on disability.
71. Functions of State Advisory Board on disability.
72. District-level Committee on disability.
73. Vacancies not to invalidate proceedings.
74. Appointment of Chief Commissioner and Commissioners.
75. Functions of Chief Commissioner.
76. Action of appropriate authorities on recommendation of Chief Commissioner.
77. Powers of Chief Commissioner.
78. Annual and special reports by Chief Commissioner.
79. Appointment of State Commissioner in States.
80. Functions of State Commissioner.
81. Action by appropriate authorities on recommendation of State Commissioner.
82. Powers of State Commissioner.
83. Annual and special reports by State Commissioner.
84. Special Court.
85. Special Public Prosecutor.
86. National Fund for persons with disabilities.
87. Accounts and audit.
88. State Fund for persons with disabilities.
89. Punishment for contravention of provisions of Act or rules or regulations made-
thereunder.
90. Offences by companies.
91. Punishment for fraudulently availing any benefit meant for persons with benchmark
disabilities.
92. Punishment for offences of atrocities.
93. Punishment for failure to furnish information.
94. Previous sanction of appropriate Government.
95. Alternative punishments.
CHAPTER XVII
MISCELLANEOUS
96. Application of other laws not barred.
97. Protection of action taken in good faith.
98. Power to remove difficulties.
99. Power to amend Schedule.
100. Power of Central Government to make rules.
101. Power of State Government to make rules.
102. Repeal and savings.

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

(a) “appellate authority” means an authority notified under sub-section (3) of section 14 or
sub-section (1) of section 53 or designated under sub-section (1) of section 59, as the case
may be;
(b) “appropriate Government”.
(c) “barrier” means any factor including communicational, cultural, economic,
environmental, institutional, political, social, attitudinal or structural factors which hampers
the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society;
(d) “care-giver” means any person including parents and other family Members who with or
without payment provides care, support or assistance to a person with disability;
(e) “certifying authority” means an authority designated under sub-section (1) of section 57;
(f) “communication” includes means and formats of communication, languages, display of
text, Braille, tactile communication, signs, large print, accessible multimedia, written, audio,
video, visual displays, sign language, plain-language, human-reader, augmentative and
alternative modes and accessible information and communication technology;
(g) “competent authority” means an authority appointed under section 49;
(h) “discrimination” in relation to disability, means any distinction, exclusion, restriction on
the basis of disability which is the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition,
enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental
freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field and includes all
forms of discrimination and denial of reasonable accommodation;
(i) “establishment” includes a government establishment and private establishment;
(j) “Fund” means the National Fund constituted under section 86;
(k) “Government establishment” means a corporation established by or under a Central Act or
State Act or an authority or a body owned or controlled or aided by the Government or a local
authority or a Government company as defined in section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18
of 2013) and includes a Department of the Government;
(l) “high support” means an intensive support, physical, psychological and otherwise, which
may be required by a person with benchmark disability for daily activities, to take
independent and informed decision to access facilities and participating in all areas of life
including education, employment, family and community life and treatment and therapy;
(m) “inclusive education” means a system of education wherein students with and without
disability learn together and the system of teaching and learning is suitably adapted to meet
the learning needs of different types of students with disabilities;
(n) “information and communication technology” includes all services and innovations
relating to information and communication, including telecom services, web-based services,
electronic and print services, digital and virtual services;
(o) “institution” means an institution for the reception, care, protection, education, training,
rehabilitation and any other activities for persons with disabilities;
(p) “local authority” means a Municipality or a Panchayat, as defined in clause (e) and
clause (f) of article 243P of the Constitution; a Cantonment Board constituted under the
Cantonments Act, 2006 (41 of 2006); and any other authority established under an Act of
Parliament or a State Legislature to administer the civic affairs;
(q) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression
“notify” or “notified” shall be construed accordingly;
(r) “person with benchmark disability” means a person with not less than forty per cent. of
a specified disability where specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms and
includes a person with disability where specified disability has been defined in measurable
terms, as certified by the certifying authority;
(s) “person with disability” means a person with long term physical, mental, intellectual or
sensory impairment which, in interaction with barriers, hinders his full and effective
participation in society equally with others;
 (t) “person with disability having high support needs” means a person with benchmark
disability certified under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 58 who needs high support;
(u) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(v) “private establishment” means a company, firm, cooperative or other society,
associations,
trust, agency, institution, organisation, union, factory or such other establishment as the
appropriate Government may, by notification, specify;
(w) “public building” means a government or private building, used or accessed by the
public at large, including a building used for educational or vocational purposes, workplace,
commercial activities, public utilities, religious, cultural, leisure or recreational activities,
medical or health services, law enforcement agencies, reformatories or judicial foras, railway
stations or platforms, roadways bus stands or terminus, airports or waterways;
(x) “public facilities and services” include all forms of delivery of services to the public at
large, including housing, educational and vocational trainings, employment and career
advancement, shopping or marketing, religious, cultural, leisure or recreational, medical,
health and rehabilitation, banking, finance and insurance, communication, postal and
information, access to justice, public utilities, transportation;
(y) “reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modification and
adjustments, without imposing a disproportionate or undue burden in a particular case, to
ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise of rights equally with others;
(z) “registered organisation” means an association of persons with disabilities or a disabled
person organisation, association of parents of persons with disabilities, association of persons
with disabilities and family members, or a voluntary or non-governmental or charitable
organisation or trust, society, or non-profit company working for the welfare of the persons
with disabilities, duly registered under an Act of Parliament or a State Legislature;
(za) “rehabilitation” refers to a process aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to attain
and maintain optimal, physical, sensory, intellectual, psychological environmental or social
function levels;
(zb) “Special Employment Exchange” means any office or place established and maintained
by the Government for the collection and furnishing of information, either by keeping of
registers or otherwise, regarding—
(i) persons who seek to engage employees from amongst the persons with disabilities;
(ii) persons with benchmark disability who seek employment;
(iii) vacancies to which persons with benchmark disabilities seeking employment
may be appointed;
(zc) “specified disability” means the disabilities as specified in the Schedule;
(zd) “transportation systems” includes road transport, rail transport, air transport, water
transport, para transit systems for the last mile connectivity, road and street infrastructure, etc;
(ze) “universal design” means the design of products, environments, programmes and
services to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for
adaptation or specialised design and shall apply to assistive devices including advanced
technologies for particular group of persons with disabilities.
 THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE
(PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT, 2013

1. Short title, extent and commencement.

2. Definitions.
3. Prevention of sexual harassment.
4. Constitution of Internal Complaints Committee.
5. Notification of District Officer.
6. Constitution and jurisdiction of Local Committee.
7. Composition tenure and other terms and conditions of Local Committee.
8. Grants and audit.
9. Complaint of sexual harassment.
10. Conciliation.
11. Inquiry into complaint.
12. Action during pendency of inquiry.
13. Inquiry report.
14. Punishment for false or malicious complaint and false evidence.
15. Determination of compensation.
16. Prohibition of publication or making known contents of complaint and inquiry
proceedings.
17. Penalty for publication or making known contents of complaint and inquiry proceedings.
18. Appeal.
19. Duties of employer.
20. Duties and powers of District Officer.
21. Committee to submit annual report.
22. Employer to include information in annual report.
23. Appropriate Government to monitor implementation and maintain data.
24. Appropriate Government to take measures to publicise the Act.
25. Power to call for information and inspection of records.
26. Penalty for non-compliance with provisions of Act.
27. Cognizance of offence by courts.
28. Act not in derogation of any other law.
29. Power of appropriate Government to make rules.
30. Power to remove difficulties.

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

(a) “aggrieved woman” means—
(i) in relation to a workplace, a woman, of any age whether employed or not, who
alleges to have been subjected to any act of sexual harassment by the respondent;
(ii) in relation to dwelling place or house, a woman of any age who is employed in
such a dwelling place or house;
(b) “appropriate Government”.
(c) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Local Complaints Committee nominated
under sub-section (1) of section 7;
(d) “District Officer” means on officer notified under section 5;
(e) “domestic worker” means a woman who is employed to do the household work in any
household for remuneration whether in cash or kind, either directly or through any agency on
a temporary, permanent, part time or full-time basis, but does not include any member of the
family of the employer;
(f) “employee” means a person employed at a workplace for any work on regular, temporary,
ad hoc or daily wage basis, either directly or through an agent, including a contractor, with or,
without the knowledge of the principal employer, whether for remuneration or not, or
working on a voluntary basis or otherwise, whether the terms of employment are express or
implied and includes a co-worker, a contract worker, probationer, trainee, apprentice or called
by any other such name;

(g) “employer” means—

(i) in relation to any department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise,
institution, office, branch or unit of the appropriate Government or a local authority,
the head of that department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise,
institution, office, branch or unit or such other officer as the appropriate Government
or the local authority, as the case may be, may by an order specify in this behalf;
(ii) in any workplace not covered under sub-clause (i), any person responsible for the
management, supervision and control of the workplace.
Explanation. —For the purposes of this sub-clause “management” includes the person
or board or committee responsible for formulation and administration of polices for
such organisation;
(iii) in relation to workplace covered under sub-clauses (i) and (ii), the person
discharging contractual obligations with respect to his or her employees;
(iv) in relation to a dwelling place or house, a person or a household who employs or
benefits from the employment of domestic worker, irrespective of the number, time
period or type of such worker employed, or the nature of the employment or activities
performed by the domestic worker;
(h) “Internal Committee” means an Internal Complaints Committee constituted under
section 4;
(i) “Local Committee” means the Local Complaints Committee constituted under section 6;
(j) “Member” means a Member of the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the
case May-be;
(k) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(l) “Presiding Officer” means the Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee
nominated under sub-section (2) of section 4;
(m) “respondent’ means a person against whom the aggrieved woman has made a complaint
under section 9;
(n) “sexual harassment” includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or
behavior (whether directly or by implication) namely:
(i) physical contact and advances; or
(ii) a demand or request for sexual favours; or
(iii) making sexually coloured remarks; or
(iv) showing pornography; or
(v) any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature;
(o) “workplace” includes—
(i) any department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise, institution,
office, branch or unit which is established, owned, controlled or wholly or
substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the appropriate
Government or the local authority or a government company or a corporation or a co-
operative society;
(ii) any private sector organisation or a private venture, undertaking, enterprise,
institution, establishment, society, trust, non-governmental organisation, unit or
service provider carrying on commercial, professional, vocational, educational,
entertainmental, industrial, health services or financial activities including production,
supply, sale, distribution or service;
(iii) hospitals or nursing homes;
(iv) any sports institute, stadium, sports complex or competition or games venue,
whether residential or not used for training, sports or other activities relating thereto;
(v) any place visited by the employee arising out of or during the course of
employment including transportation by the employer for undertaking such journey;
(vi) a dwelling place or a house;
 (p) “unorganised sector” in relation to a workplace means an enterprise owned by
individuals or self-employed workers and engaged in the production or sale of goods or
providing service of any kind whatsoever, and where the enterprise employs workers, the
number of such workers is less than ten.

THE INDECENT REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN (PROHIBITION) ACT, 1986

1. Short title, extent and commencement.

2. Definitions.
3. Prohibition of advertisements containing indecent representation of women.
4. Prohibition of publication or sending by post of books, pamphlets, etc., containing indecent
representation of women.
5. Powers to enter and search.
6. Penalty.
7. Offences by companies
8. Offences to be cognizable and bailable.
9. Protection of action taken in good faith.
10. Power to make rules.

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

(a) “advertisement” includes any notice, circular, label, wrapper or other document and also
includes any visible representation made by means of any light, sound, smoke or gas;
(b) “distribution” includes distribution by way of samples whether free or otherwise;
(c) “indecent representation of women” means the depiction in any manner of the figure of
a woman, her form or body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being
indecent, or derogatory to, or denigrating, women, or is likely to deprave, corrupt or injure the
public morality or morals;
(d) “label” means any written, marked, stamped, printed or graphic matter, affixed to, or
appearing upon, any package;
(e) “package” includes a box, carton, tin or other container;
(f) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
 The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

1 Short title, extent and commencement.

2 Definitions of 'dowry'.
3 Penalty for giving or taking dowry.
4 Penalty for demanding dowry.
4A Ban on advertisement.
5 Agreement of giving or taking dowry to be void.
6 Dowry to be for the benefit of the wife or her heirs.
7 Cognizance of offences.
8 Offences to be cognizable for certain purposes and to be non-bailable
and non-compoundable.
8A Burden of proof in certain cases.
8B Dowry Prohibition Officers.
9 Power to make rules.
10 Power of State Government to make rules.

2. Definition of ‘dowry’- In this Act, "dowry" means any property or valuable security
given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly.
a. By one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage, or
b. By the parent of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to
the marriage or to any other person, At or before or any time after the marriage in
connection with the marriage of the said parties, but does not include] dower or mahr
in the case or persons to whom the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) applied.
Explanation II - The expression "valuable security" has the same meaning as in section 30 of
the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
 THE PRE-NATAL DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES (REGULATION AND
PREVENTION OF MISUSE) ACT, 1994

1 Short title, extent and commencement

2 Definitions
3 Regulation of Genetic Counselling Centres, Genetic Laboratories and Genetic Clinics
4 Regulation of prenatal diagnostic techniques
5- Written consents of pregnant woman and prohibition of communicating the sex of
foetus
6 Determination of sex prohibited
7 Constitution of Central Supervisory Board
8 Term of office of members
9 Meetings of the Board
10 Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of the Board
11 Temporary association of persons with the Board for particular purposes
12 Appointment or officers and other employees of the Board
13 Authentication of orders and other instruments of the Board
14 Disqualifications for appointment as member
15 Eligibility of member for reappointment
16 Functions of the Board
17 Appropriate Authority and Advisory Committee
18 Registration of Genetic counselling Centers, Genetic Laboratories or Genetic Clinics
19 Certificate of registration
20 Cancellation or suspension of registration
21 Appeal
22 Prohibition of advertisement relating to pre-natal determination of sex and
punishment for contravention
23 Offences and penalties
24 Presumption in the case of conduct of pre-natal diagnostic techniques
25 Penalty for contravention of the provisions of the Act or rules for which no specific
punishment is provided
26 Offences by companies
27 Offence to be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable
28 Cognizance of offences
Chapter VIII Miscellaneous
29 Maintenance of records
30 Power to search and seize records etc.
31 Protection of action taken in good faith
32 Power to make rules
33 Power to make regulations
34 Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament

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

(a) “Appropriate Authority” means the Appropriate Authority appointed under section 17;
(b) “Board” means the Central Supervisory Board constituted under section 7;
(ba)” conceptus” means any product of conception at any stage of development from
fertilization until birth including extra embryonic membranes as well as the embryo or foetus;
(bb) “embryo” means a developing human organism after fertilization till the end of eight
weeks (fifty-six days);
(bc) “foetus” means a human organism during the period of its development beginning on the
fifty-seventh day following fertilization or creation (excluding any time in which its
development has been suspended) and ending at the birth;
(c) “Genetic Counselling Centre” means an institute, hospital, nursing home or any place,
by whatever name called, which provides for genetic counselling to patients;
(d) “Genetic Clinic” means a clinic, institute, hospital, nursing home or any place, by
whatever name called, which is used for conducting pre-natal diagnostic procedures.
Explanation- For the purposes of this clause, ‘Genetic Clinic’ includes a vehicle, where
ultrasound machine or imaging machine or scanner or other equipment capable of
determining sex of the foetus or a portable equipment which has the potential for detection of
sex during pregnancy or selection of sex before conception, is used.
(e) “Genetic Laboratory” means a laboratory and includes a place where facilities are
provided for conducting analysis or tests of samples received from Genetic Clinic for pre-
natal diagnostic test.
Explanation- For the purposes of this clause, ‘Genetic Laboratory’ includes a place where
ultrasound machine or imaging machine or scanner or other equipment capable of
determining sex of the foetus or a portable equipment which has the potential for detection of
sex during pregnancy or selection of sex before conception, is used.
(f) “Gynaecologist” means a person who possesses a post- graduate qualification in
gynaecology and obstetrics;
(g) “Medical geneticist” includes a person who possesses a degree or diploma in genetic
science in the fields of sex selection and pre-natal diagnostic techniques or has experience of
not less than two years in such field after obtaining—
(i) any one of the medical qualifications recognised under the Indian Medical Council
Act, 1956 or
(ii) a post-graduate degree in biological sciences;
(h) “Paediatrician” means a person who possesses a post-graduate qualification in
paediatrics;
(i) “pre-natal diagnostic procedures” means all gynaecological or obstetrical or medical
procedures such as ultrasonography, fetoscopy, taking or removing samples of amniotic fluid,
chorionic villi, blood or any other tissue or fluid of a man, or of a woman for being sent to a
Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic for conducting any type of analysis or pre-natal
diagnostic tests for selection of sex before or after conception;
(j) “pre-natal diagnostic techniques” includes all pre-natal diagnostic procedures and pre-
natal diagnostic tests;
(k) “pre-natal diagnostic test” means ultrasonography or any test or analysis of amniotic
fluid, chorionic villi, blood or any tissue or fluid of a pregnant woman or conceptus conducted
to detect genetic or metabolic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities or congenital
anomalies or haemoglobinopathies or sex-linked diseases;
(l) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(m) “registered medical practitioner”
(n) “regulations” means regulations framed by the Board under this Act;
(o) “sex selection” includes any procedure, technique, test or administration or prescription or
provision of anything for the purpose of ensuring or increasing the probability that an embryo
will be of a particular sex;
(p) “sonologist or imaging specialist” means a person who possesses any one of the medical
qualifications recognized under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 or who possesses a
postgraduate qualification in ultrasonography or imaging techniques or radiology;
(q) “State Board” means a State Supervisory Board or a Union territory Supervisory Board
constituted under Section 16A;
(r) “State Government” in relation to Union territory with Legislature means the
Administrator of that Union territory appointed by the President under article 239 of
Constitution.