Covid-19: Fine upto Rs 5 lakh, 7-year jail for attack on health workers, says Prakash Javadekar

NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of attacks on healthcare personnel fighting coronavirus , the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making acts of violence against them as cognizable and non-bailable offences, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said.He said the proposed ordinance also provides for compensation for injury to healthcare service personnel or for causing damage or loss to property."We have brought an ordinance under which any attack on health workers will be a cognizable, non-bailable offence. In case of grievous injuries, the accused can be sentenced from 6 months to 7 years. They can be penalised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh," Union minister Prakash Javadekar briefed media after the meeting of the Union Cabinet.The proposed ordinance will amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.It will help protect healthcare service personnel and their living and working premises against violence.Asked whether the new changes in the law will be applicable even after the threat of Covid-19 is over, Javadekar told reporters that the ordinance has been approved to amend the Epidemic Act."But it is a good beginning," he said, without elaborating.