Toeing the Centre’s line with the aim to protect corona warriors, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, making attack on frontline workers in the fight against coronavirus a stringent offence attracting seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
An ordinance — the  UP Epidemic Diseases Control Ordinance, 2020’ — would be brought to add the amendments to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath discussed in detail the ordinance amending the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897, with senior officials of Team 11 in Lucknow on Wednesday.
“The new law will have penal provision, including jail term and fine, for fleeing from quarantine and isolation or violating lockdown norms. Besides, stringent punishment will be handed out for spreading the virus among masses,” Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi told news persons here on Wednesday.
He said the new law would protect corona warriors, including doctors, nurses, other medical staff, sanitary workers and policemen, who have been trying to save people from coronavirus infection.
He said that the chief minister issued direction that the ordinance be brought immediately as it would boost the morale of the medicos.
Under the new law, people violating norms or attacking corona warriors could face jail up to seven years along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh. Besides, attack on corona warriors would be a cognisable and non-bailable offence under the new law.
“The new law will also propose a punishment for spitting on corona warriors and insulting or attacking them. The law became a necessity after increasing attacks on corona warriors,” Awasthi said.
Recently, the Union government had amended the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 through an ordinance to protect corona warriors across the country with provision of jail and fine against the offenders.
As law and order is in the concurrent list, it is mandatory for states to bring their own provisions by making amendments to the prevailing Act.