The offence of attacks on Doctors and healthcare workers will be considered as a cognizable and non-bailable offence under the ordinance that the Central Government has decided to introduce. This ordinance will make amendments to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar while making this announcement said
“The message is clear…attacks on doctors and healthcare workers are unacceptable.”
Prakash Javadekar (Union Minister)
See the cabinet briefing here
The offence shall be punishable with imprisonment ranging from 3 months to 5 years, and penalty ranging from Rs 50,000 to 2 lakh. In case of a very serious attack, the imprisonment may be for a minimum period of 6 months and maximum of 7 years, with penalty ranging from Rs 1 lakh to 5 lakh.
The investigation into the incidents of attacks on doctors and healthcare workers will have to be conducted by a senior inspector and be completed within 30 days as per the ordinance.
Javadekar further stated that in case of damage to vehicles or clinics of doctors or healthcare workers, the perpetrators would have to pay double the market cost of the damaged asset as compensation.
More details will be out soon.
