In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-
(a) "appointed day" means the 1 st day of April, 1998;
1. Passed in Hindi by the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. For Statement of Objects and Reasons see R.H.P. (Extra-ordinary), dated 12.12.1997, pages 4711 and 4716.
H. P.COMPULSORY PRIMARY EDUCATION ACT, 1997 2
(b) "child" means child whose age is not less than six, and not more than eleven years ;
(c) "Government school" means a school established and maintained by the State Government;
(d) "local authority" means a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad, Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council or Municipal Corporation ;
(e) "parent" includes guardian or any person who has the actual custody or is in charge of a child ;
(f) "primary education" means such instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic, as may be prescribed for the time being at the primary school level by the State Government and such instruction in other subjects, if any, as may be determined by the State Government or the local authority with the approval of the prescribed authority ;
(g) "primary school" means a school in which instruction in primary education is given ;
(h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act
(i) "prescribed authority" means an authority notified as such by the State Government whether generally or for a particular purpose;
(j) "school committee" means a committee appointed under the provisions of section 4 of this Act ;
(k) "State Government" means the Government of Himachal Pradesh; and
(l) "to attend a primary school" means to be present for instruction at such school, on such days in the year, at such times or time and for so many hours on each day of attendance, as may be, fixed by the prescribed authorities.