In force · As amended up to 2026-08
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".
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 * * *
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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The Act has been repealed in its application to Bellary District by Mysore Act 14 of 1955.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).
Source: India Code