President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday approved the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which provides stricter punishment for the attacks on health workers across the country. With this, the ordinance will take the form of a law across the country from now on.
The ordinance which amends the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 also provides for compensation for injury to healthcare service personnel or for causing damage or loss to property. The ordinance makes acts of violence against healthcare personnel fighting Covid-19 pandemic now become a non-bailable offence and the punishment can come within a year.
This decision brings a change in the epidemic law which has been there since 1897.
On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet had approved the ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, making such offences as non-bailable carrying an imprisonment up to 7 years and a maximum of Rs 5 Lakh fine if anyone is found guilty.
