- In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-(i)"Approved Institution" means a hospital or a medical or an allied institution as may be declared by the state Government by notification in the official Gazette to be an approved institution for the purpose of this Act.(ii)"Authorized Officer" means an officer authorized to Act under this Act.(iii)"Hospital" means any hospital established or maintained by the State Government or by any Municipal Council, Municipality, Board or Panchayat and includes any other hospital (private) which may be declared by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette, to be such hospital for the purpose of this Act.(iv)"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 expressions "lineal and collateral consanguinity" shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indian Succession Act, 1925.(v)"Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.(vi)"Unclaimed Body" means body of the deceased person who has no near relative or whose body has not been claimed by any of his near relatives within such period as may be prescribed.
