The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897

(1) This Act may be called the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. 1[(2) It extends to the whole of India 2***] 3* * * 4* * * * *

1[1A. Definitions.--In this, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "act of violence" includes any of the following acts committed by any person against ahealthcare service personnel serving during an epidemic, which causes or may cause-- (i) harassment impacting the living or working conditions of such healthcare servicepersonnel and preventing him from discharging his duties; (ii) harm, injury, hurt, intimidation or danger to the life of such healthcare servicepersonnel, either within the premises of a clinical establishment or otherwise; (iii) obstruction or hindrance to such healthcare service personnel in the discharge ofhis duties, either within the premises of a clinical establishment or otherwise; or (iv) loss or damage to any property or documents in the custody of, or in relation to,such healthcare service personnel; (b) "healthcare service personnel" means a person who while carrying out his duties inrelation to epidemic related responsibilities, may come in direct contact with affected patientsand thereby is at the risk of being impacted by such disease, and includes-- (i) any public and clinical healthcare provider such as doctor, nurse, paramedicalworker and community health worker; (ii) any other person empowered under the Act to take measures to prevent theoutbreak of the disease or spread thereof; and (iii) any person declared as such by the State Government, by notification in theOfficial Gazette; (c) "property" includes-- (i) a clinical establishment as defined in the Clinical Establishments (Registration andRegulation) Act, 2010 (23 of 2010); (ii) any facility identified for quarantine and isolation of patients during an epidemic; (iii) a mobile medical unit; and (iv) any other property in which a healthcare service personnel has direct interest inrelating to the epidemic; (d) the words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in the Indian PortsAct, 1908 (15 of 1908), the Aircraft Act, 1934 (22 of 1934) or the Land Ports Authority ofIndia Act, 2010 (31 of 2010), as the case may be, shall have the same meaning as assign ed tothem in that Act.]

12. Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemicdisease.--(1) When at any time the 2[State Government] is satisfied that 2[the State] or any partthereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the 3[StateGovernment], if 4[it] thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force areinsufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such me asuresand, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by anyperson or class of persons as 4[it] shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease orthe spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred(including compensation if any) shall be defrayed. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the 2[StateGovernment] may take measures and prescribe regulations for-- 5* * * * * (b) the inspection of persons travelling by railway or otherwise, and the segregation, in hospital,temporary accommodation or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infectedwith any such disease. 6* * * * *

1 [2A. Powers of Central Government.--When the Central Government is satisfied that Indiaor any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemicdisease and that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insuffici ent toprevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, the Central Government may takemeasures and prescribe regulations for the inspection of any ship or vessel leaving or arriving atany port in 2[the territories to which this Act extends] and for such detention thereof, or of anyperson intending to sail therein, or arriving thereby, as may be necessary.]

1[2B. Prohibition of violence against healthcare service personnel and damage to property.--Noperson shall indulge in any act of violence against a healthcare service personnel or cause any damage orloss to any property during an epidemic.]