The Centre on Saturday asked state governments to register cases and invoke the stringent Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020 against those who indulge in assault on doctors and healthcare professionals.
In the wake of several incidents of attack on doctors and healthcare professionals, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said during the current Covid-19 pandemic, it has become imperative that strict action be taken against those who assault healthcare professionals.
According to this law, anyone involved in the assault on doctors and healthcare professionals are liable to be punished with imprisonment up to five years, and a fine up to Rs two lakh. Further, if an act of violence causes grievous harm, the offender will be punishable with imprisonment up to seven years and a fine up to Rs five lakh.