The Epidemic Disease Act 1897 and its Amendment - A Perspective

The Epidemic Disease Act was enacted in 1897 to stop the spread of bubonic plague outbreak in Bombay at that time. The Act gives powers to the central and state government to take special measures and prescribe regulations to prevent the spread of dangerous epidemic disease. The act was invoked many times in the country since then and the last was in 2018 to prevent the spread of cholera in a Gujarat village. The covid-19 pandemic made the country to a standstill and the government machinery, health care workers and officials are working day night to contain the virus. The most unfortunate thing that happened in our country is unprovoked abuse, harassment and violence on the people who are at the forefront to implement preventive strategies by the public. The government felt that The Epidemic Disease Act was insufficient to protect the workforce and a new ordinance was brought to amend the Epidemic Disease Act of 1897. The ordinance has introduced a bill in both sections of parliament and now became an act. Both the act and its amendment are discussed here.