Covid-19: Odisha brings ordinance with provision of two years jail term for violators of epidemic regulations

Ashok Pradhan | TNN | Apr 8, 2020, 23:12 IST

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BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Wednesday promulgated an ordinance making a provision of imprisonment up to two years for whoever disobeys epidemic regulations.
The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 amends application of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to Odisha.
Under the ordinance, any person disobeying any regulation or order made under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 for imprisonment up to two years or with fine up to Rs 10,000 or with both.
Law secretary Sashikant Mishra said the provision replaces the Section 3 of the principal Act which said disobeying the regulation under the Act meant committing an offence punishable under Section 188 of the IPC (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). The same invited maximum six months jail term and Rs 1000 fine.
The government on Marc 13 implemented the Odisha Covid-19 Regulations 2020 using the 1897 Act. With the ordinance, the enforcement agencies can now book violators of lockdown, quarantine and other provisions of Covid-19 regulations under the ordinance which has jail term of two years instead of booking them under IPC Section 188 as was being done so far.
Under ‘Odisha Covid-19 Regulations 2020’ anyone not going into isolation or failing to get admitted to a hospital over a suspected case of coronavirus may be prosecuted. Similarly, anyone who has travelled to any corona affected country on or after March 4 has to to voluntarily report it to the state control room and follow the authorities’ advice.
The ordinance also brings procurement of goods, services and equipment necessary for prevention and control of the epidemic disease under the purview of the amended Epidemic Diseases Act, which was not included in the 1897 Act.