Epidemic Diseases Act amended to make violence against healthcare workers cognizable
This law amends the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to protect healthcare workers from violence and harassment during epidemics and grants the Central Government concurrent powers to take measures to prevent disease spread. It replaces a previous ordinance with stricter penalties for attacks on medical staff and property.
The law affects healthcare service personnel (doctors, nurses, paramedical workers, community health workers, and others declared by the State Government), individuals or entities who commit acts of violence or damage property during an epidemic, and the Central and State Governments regarding epidemic control measures.
- Defines 'act of violence' to include harassment, harm, intimidation, obstruction, and property damage against healthcare personnel.
- Prohibits any person from committing acts of violence against healthcare service personnel or causing damage to property during an epidemic.
- Makes offences of violence against healthcare personnel cognizable and non-bailable.
- Prescribes punishment for committing or abetting violence: 3 months to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000.
- Prescribes punishment for causing grievous hurt: 6 months to 7 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹1,00,000 to ₹5,00,000.
- Requires investigation by a police officer not below the rank of Inspector, to be completed within 30 days.
- Mandates that trials be concluded within one year, extendable by up to six months at a time for recorded reasons.
- Allows the Court to presume the offence was committed and that the accused had a culpable mental state unless proven otherwise.
- Requires convicted persons to pay compensation for hurt/grievous hurt and twice the fair market value for damaged property or loss.
- Empowers the Central Government to inspect and detain buses, trains, goods vehicles, ships, vessels, or aircraft, and persons traveling on them, to prevent epidemic spread.
Written from the document by AI, and checked against it. The original below is authoritative.
Where this law is now — Became law (Act)
The original document
Document details
| Official title | The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 |
| Source body | Parliament of India — Bills (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) |
| Reference number | XXVII |
| Status | closed (bill) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Closing date | — |
| Documents | 2 |