The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897
THE EPIDEMIC DISEASES ACT, 1897

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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

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SECTIONS

1. Short title and extent.

1A. Definitions.

2. Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease.

2A. Powers of Central Government.

2B. Prohibition of violence against healthcare service personnel and damage to property.

3. Penalty.

3A. Cognizance, investigation and trial of offences.

3B. Composition of certain offences.

3C. Presumption as to certain offences.

3D. Presumption of culpable mental state.

3E. Compensation for acts of violence.

4.  Protection to persons acting under Act.

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# THE EPIDEMIC DISEASES ACT, 1897
 ACT NO. 3 OF 1897[1]

[4th February, 1897.]

# An Act to provide for the better prevention of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Diseases.

WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the better prevention of the spread of dangerous epidemic

disease; It is hereby enacted as follows :—

**1. Short title and extent.—(1)** This Act may be called the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

2[(2) It extends to the whole of India 3***] 4* * *

5* ***** ***** ***** *****

**6[1A. Definitions.—In this, unless the context otherwise requires,—**

(a) “act of violence” includes any of the following acts committed by any person against a

healthcare service personnel serving during an epidemic, which causes or may cause —

(i) harassment impacting the living or working conditions of such healthcare service

personnel and preventing him from discharging his duties;

(ii) harm, injury, hurt, intimidation or danger to the life of such healthcare service

personnel, either within the premises of a clinical establishment or otherwise;

(iii) obstruction or hindrance to such healthcare service personnel in the discharge of

his 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 in

relation to epidemic related responsibilities, may come in direct contact with affected patients
and thereby is at the risk of being impacted by such disease, and includes—

(i) any public and clinical healthcare provider such as doctor, nurse, paramedical

worker and community health worker;

(ii) any other person empowered under the Act to take measures to prevent the

outbreak of the disease or spread thereof; and


1. This Act has been amended in its application to—

(1) the Punjab by the Epidemic Diseases (Punjab Amendment) Act, 1944 (Punjab Act 3 of 1944); in East Punjab by

East Punjab Act 1 of 1947:

(2) the C. P. and Berar by the C. P. and Berar Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 1945 (C. P. and Berar Act 4 of 1945).

The Act has been extended to—

(1) the whole of Madhya Pradesh by M.P. Act 23 of 1958 (when notified).
(2) the transferred territories of Punjab by Punjab Act 8 of 1961.
(3) in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (w.e.f. 1-7-1965) by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and Sch.
(4) to Lakshadweep (w.e.f. 1-10-1967) : vide Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and Sch.
(5) Union territory of Pondicherry by Act 26 of 1968, s. 3 and Sch.

The Act has been repealed in its application to Bellary District by Mysore Act 14 of 1955.

2. Subs. by the A.0. 1950.
3. The words, figures and letters “except the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were

comprised in Part B States” omitted by Act 34 of 2020, s. 2 (w.e.f. 22-4-2020).

4. The word “and” rep. by Act 10 of 1914, s. 3 and the Second Schedule.
5. Sub-section (3) rep. by s. 3 and the Second Schedule, ibid.
6. Ins. by Act 34 of 2020, s. 3 (w.e.f. 22-4-2020).

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(iii) any person declared as such by the State Government, by notification in the

Official Gazette;

(c) “property” includes—

(i) a clinical establishment as defined in the Clinical Establishments (Registration and

Regulation) 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 in

relating to the epidemic;

(d) the words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in the Indian Ports

Act, 1908 (15 of 1908), the Aircraft Act, 1934 (22 of 1934) or the Land Ports Authority of
India Act, 2010 (31 of 2010), as the case may be, shall have the same meaning as assigned to
them in that Act.]

1[2. Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic

**disease.—(1)** When at any time the [2][State Government] is satisfied that [2][the State] or any part
thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the [3][State
Government], if [4][it] thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are
insufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measures
and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any
person or class of persons as [4][it] shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or
the 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][State

Government] 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 infected
with any such disease.

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**7[2A. Powers of Central Government.—When the Central Government is satisfied that India**

or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic
disease and that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient to
prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, [8][the Central Government may take
such measures, as it deems fit and prescribe regulations for the inspection of any bus or train or
goods vehicle or ship or vessel or aircraft leaving or arriving at any land port or aerodrome, as the
case may be, in the territories to which this Act extends and for such detention thereof, or of any
person intending to travel therein, or arriving thereby, as may be necessary.]

1. For Notifications issued under this section, see different local Rules and Orders.
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “G.G. in C.”
3. Subs., ibid., for “India”.
4. Subs., ibid., for “he”.
5. Paragraph (a) omitted, ibid.
6. Sub-section (3) omitted by Act 38 of 1920, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
7. Ins. by Act 38 of 1920, s. 2 and the First Schedule. Earlier substituted by the A.O.1937.
8. Subs. by Act 34 of 2020, s. 4, for certain words (w.e.f. 22-4-2020).

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**1[2B. Prohibition of violence against healthcare service personnel and damage to property.—No**

person shall indulge in any act of violence against a healthcare service personnel or cause any damage or
loss to any property during an epidemic.]

**3. Penalty.—[2][(1)]** Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this Act shall

be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code
(45 of 1860).

3[(2) Whoever,—

(i) commits or abets the commission of an act of violence against a healthcare service

personnel; or

(ii) abets or cause damage or loss to any property,

shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months, but
which may extend to five years, and with fine, which shall not be less than fifty thousand
rupees, but which may extend to two lakh rupees.

(3) Whoever, while committing an act of violence against a healthcare service personnel,

causes grievous hurt as defined in section 320 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) to such
person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six
months, but which may extend to seven years and with fine, which shall not be less than one
lakh rupees, but which may extend to five lakh rupees.]

**4 [3A. Cognizance, investigation and trial of offences.—Notwithstanding anything**

contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974),—

(i) an offence punishable under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 3 shall be

cognizable and non-bailable;

(ii) any case registered under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 3 shall be

investigated by a police officer not below the rank of Inspector;

(iii) investigation of a case under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 3 shall

be completed within a period of thirty days from the date of registration of the First
Information Report;

(iv) in every inquiry or trial of a case under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of

section 3, the proceedings shall be held as expeditiously as possible, and in particular,
when the examination of witnesses has once begun, the same shall be continued from day
to day until all the witnessed in attendance have been examined, unless the Court finds the
adjournment of the same beyond the following day to be necessary for reasons to be
recorded, and an endeavor shall be made to ensure that the inquiry or trial is concluded
within a period of one year:

Provided that where the trial is not concluded within the said period, the Judge shall

record the reasons for not having done so:

Provided further that the said period may be extended by such further period, for reasons

to be recorded in writing, but not exceeding six months at a time.

**3B. Composition of certain offences** .—Where a person is prosecuted for committing an

offence punishable under sub-section (2) of section 3, such offence may, with the permission
of the Court, be compounded by the person against whom such act of violence is committed.

1. Ins. by Act 34 of 2020, s. 5 (w.e.f. 22-4-2020).
2. Section 3 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 34 of 2020, s. 6 (w.e.f. 22-4-2020).
3. Ins. by Act 34 of 2020, s. 6 (w.e.f. 22-4-2020).
4. Ins. by s. 7, ibid. (w.e.f. 22-4-2020).

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**3C. Presumption as to certain offences.—Where a person is prosecuted for committing**

an offence punishable under sub-section (3) of section 3, the Court shall presume that such
person has committed such offence, unless the contrary is proved.

**3D. Presumption of culpable mental state.—(1) In any prosecution for an offence under**

sub-section (3) of section 3 which requires a culpable mental state on the part of the accused,
the Court shall presume the existence of such mental state, but it shall be a defence for the
accused to prove the fact that he had no such mental state with respect to the act charged as an
offence in that prosecution.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a fact is said to be proved only when the Court

believes it to exist beyond reasonable doubt and not merely when its existence is established
by a preponderance of probability.

_Explanation.—In this section, “culpable mental state” includes intention, motive,_

knowledge of a fact and the belief in, or reason to believe, a fact.

**3E. Compensation for acts of violence.—(1) In addition to the punishment provided for**

an offence under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 3, the person so convicted shall
also be liable to pay, by way of compensation, such amount, as may be determined by the
Court for causing hurt or grievous hurt to any healthcare service personnel.

(2) Notwithstanding the composition of an offence under section 3B, in case of damage to

any property or loss caused, the compensation payable shall be twice the amount of fair
market value of the damaged property or the loss caused, as may be determined by the Court.

(3) Upon failure to pay the compensation awarded under sub-sections (1) and (2), such

amount shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue under the Revenue Recovery Act, 1890
(1 of 1890).]

**4. Protection to persons acting under Act.—No suit or other legal proceeding shall**

lie against any person for anything done or in good faith intended to be done under this
Act.

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