New Delhi, April 22, 2020: The India federal cabinet on April 22 approved the promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, making acts of violence against medical staff a cognizable and nonbailable offence.
The act has also provisions to provide compensation for injury to healthcare personnel or for damage or loss to property.
The ordinance proposes that in cases of attacks on healthcare workers, the investigation will be completed within 30 days and the final decision arrived at within one year.
The punishment for such attacks will be 3 months to 5 years and the fine 50,000 to 200,000 rupees. In severe cases, where there are grievous injuries, the punishment will be six months to seven years and the fine of 100,000 t 500,000 rupees.
Federal Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, in a series of tweets after the announcement, noted that as per the “new ordinance, there shall be zero tolerance to any incidents of violence against healthcare service personnel and/or damage to property. All offences of violence will be cognizable and nonbailable”.
In a tweet, he said, “This will facilitate punishment under the law in cases of violence against healthcare service personnel serving during an epidemic. Public venting of angst against healthcare service personnel leading to harassment assault and damage to property is being highlighted daily. Portrayal as potential spreaders of COVID-19 pandemic played havoc with the confidence of the medical community which is demanding protection.”
A government release said the ordinance is intended to ensure that during any situation akin to the current pandemic, there is zero tolerance to any form of violence against healthcare service personnel and damage to property.
It said several states had enacted special laws to offer protection to doctors and other medical personnel in the past.
“However, the COVID-19 outbreak has posed a unique situation where harassment of the healthcare workforce and others working to contain the spread of the disease has been taking place at all fronts, in various places, including in cremation grounds,” the release said, adding the existing State laws do not have such a wide ambit.
They generally do not cover harassment at home and workplace and are focussed more on physical violence. The penal provisions contained in these laws are not stringent enough to deter mischief-mongering.
Source: The Hindu