After Karnataka, the Epidemic Act and Disaster Management Act will be invoked all over the country in order to prevent the further spread of Covid-19, according to the sources.
The decision was taken in a meeting headed by the Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba yesterday with representatives of the Indian Army, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and other ministries, according to sources.
The government has directed the states and union territories of India to invoke the provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897, under which regulations will be prescribed to the disease. The section also includes the detention of people or any vessel that come from international shores. Centre has also prohibited cruise ships, crew, or passengers from coronavirus-hit nations to come to India till March 31 under the act.
Under The provisions of the Act, the government can penalize people or imprison them for violating rules and regulations that will be implemented to prevent the disease. Section 3 of the Act states, “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).”