person

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act uses the word person in a very broad way. It does not just mean a living human being. Under the Act, a person includes an individual, a company, a firm, or a Hindu undivided family. The definition also covers groups of people acting together, such as an association of persons or a body of individuals, regardless of whether they are officially incorporated. It specifically includes the State, meaning government bodies are treated as persons under the law. Finally, the definition acts as a catch-all by including every artificial juristic person that does not fit into the other categories. This ensures that any legally recognized entity, even if not explicitly listed, is still considered a person under the Act.

Key points

• A person includes a living individual as well as a Hindu undivided family [(i), (ii)].
• Companies, firms, and associations of persons are all considered persons, whether they are incorporated or not [(iii), (iv), (v)].
• The State is explicitly defined as a person [(vi)].
• Any other artificial juristic person not already listed is also covered by this definition [(vii)].

Common misreadings

• Assuming that the word person only refers to a living human being, when it actually includes companies, the State, and other legal entities.
• Believing that an association must be officially incorporated to be considered a person, when the text explicitly includes unincorporated bodies.