The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, making acts of violence against medical staff a cognizable and non-bailable offence and 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.
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The punishment for such attacks will be 3 months to 5 years and the fine ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh. In severe cases, where there are grievous injuries, the punishment will be 6 months to 7 years and the fine ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
Harsh Vardhan’s tweet
Union 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 non-bailable”.
In a tweet, he said, “This will facilitate punishment under the law in cases of violence against healthcare service personne