New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind has approved to promulgate The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which provides stricter punishments for attacks against health workers. The ordinance makes acts of violence against healthcare personnel fighting Covid-19 pandemic as cognizable and non-bailable offences.

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 president has given his assent for promulgation of the ordinance," the Health Ministry said in a statement, adding that commission or abetment of such acts of violence will be punishable with an imprisonment for a term of three months to five years, and with fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000.

In addition, the offender will also be liable to pay compensation to the victim and twice the fair market value for damage of property, the ministry said.

The Union Cabinet in the afternoon approved promulgation of The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to protect healthcare service personnel and property, including their living/working premises against violence during epidemics.

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Soon after the Union cabinet amended the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987 in order to ensure the safety of health workers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to suggest that it showed his government's "commitment" to protect the medical fraternity.

The Prime Minister tweeted: "The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 manifests our commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker who is bravely battling COVID-19 on the frontline."


Modi, who chaired the cabinet meeting, added, "It will ensure safety of our professionals. There can be no compromise on their safety."

The current 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, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

"... some incidents of violence have taken place which has demoralized the medical fraternity. It is felt that separate and most stringent provisions for emergent times are needed to act as effective deterrents to any such incidents of violence," the ministry said.

Violence as defined in the ordinance will include harassment and physical injury and damage to property.

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