Up to 7 years of jail for those guilty of violence against health workers
Cabinet approves ordinance to protect healthcare workers
The Cabinet has approved an ordinance to protect healthcare workers from violence on Wednesday. Those found guilty of attacking healthcare workers will face imprisonment and fine of Rs 50,000 to 2 lakh rupees and carries imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years if anyone found guilty, said Union minister Prakash Javadekar.
In case of serious injures to healthcare workers, the guilty will face imprisonment from 6 months to 7 years.
Union minister Prakash Javadekar Wednesday said the Centre will not tolerate the attacks on the healthcare workers in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic and has decided to bring an ordinance to make it a punishable offense.
Javadekar said the government will amend the Epidemics Diseases Act, 1897 to make the attacks on healthcare workers a cognisable and punishable offense, under which a violator may be awarded with a jail term of three months to five years with a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
In cases of severe injury to workers, the jail term will be increased to six month to seven years with a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. If there is damage done to the vehicles or clinics of healthcare workers, then compensation amounting to twice the market value of the damaged property will be taken from the accused.
The investigation will be completed within 30 days and the decision will be carried out within one year, he added.