And whereas there is a need to protect the rights of healthcare providers and other persons in relation to Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome;
And whereas the General Assembly of the United Nations, recalling and reaffirming its previous commitments on Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, has adopted the Declaration of Commitment on Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (2001) to address the problems of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in all its aspects and to secure a global commitment to enhancing coordination and intensification of national, regional and international efforts to combat it in a comprehensive manner;
And whereas the Republic of India, being a signatory to the aforesaid Declaration, it is expedient to give effect to the said Declaration.
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:––
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
Short title, extent and commencement. 1. (1) This Act may be called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
Definitions. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
- (a) “AIDS” means Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a condition characterised by a combination of signs and symptoms, caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which attacks and weakens the body’s immune system making the HIV-positive person susceptible to life threatening conditions or other conditions, as may be specified from time to time;
- (b) “capacity to consent” means ability of an individual, determined on an objective basis, to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of a proposed action and to make an informed decision concerning such action;
- (c) “child affected by HIV” means a person below the age of eighteen years, who is HIV-positive or whose parent or guardian (with whom such child normally resides) is HIV-positive or has lost a parent or guardian (with whom such child resided) due to AIDS or lives in a household fostering children orphaned by AIDS;
- (d) “discrimination” means any act or omission which directly or indirectly, expressly or by effect, immediately or over a period of time,—
- (i) imposes any burden, obligation, liability, disability or disadvantage on any person or category of persons, based on one or more HIV-related grounds; or
- (ii) denies or withholds any benefit, opportunity or advantage from any person or category of persons, based on one or more HIV-related grounds, and the expression “discriminate” to be construed accordingly.
- Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this clause, HIV-related grounds include—
- (i) being an HIV-positive person;
- (ii) ordinarily living, residing or cohabiting with a person who is HIV-positive person;
