New Delhi, Apr 22:The Union Cabinet, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved an ordinance to make attack on health workers, tending to Covid-19 patients, a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
Under the law, those causing grave injuries to health care workers, can get a jail term from 6 months to 7 years.
Addressing a press conference to brief media about the Cabinet decisions, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said ,’Health workers who are trying to save the country from this epidemic are unfortunately facing attacks. No incident of violence or harassment, against them will be tolerated. Be it harassment or criminal offence in form of violence, zero tolerance will be shown.
‘We will not allow this to happen in this civilised society. An ordinance has been brought in to make attack on health workers a cognizable and non-bailable offence. In case of grave injury caused, accused can get jail term from 6 months to 7 years.’
The Minister said that under the act, a probe into the cases of attack on healthcare workers, will be completed within 30 days.
‘Judgement will be given in maximum 1 year,” he added.
The ordinance, said the Minister, will now go to the President for his approval.
There have been several incidents of attacks on health care workers involved in treatment of COVID-19 patients.
