Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897
ACT No. III of 1897.
Passed by the Governor General of India in Council.
(Received the assent of the Governor General on the 4th February, 1897.)
An Act to provide for the better prevention of
the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Disease.
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the better prevention of the spread of dangerous epidemic disease; It is hereby enacted as follows:-
Short title, extent and commencement.
1. (1) This Act may be called the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
(2) It extends to the whole of British India (inclusive of Upper Burma, British Baluchistan, the Santal Parganas and the Pargana of Spiti); and
(3) It shall come into force at once.
Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease. 2. (1) When at any time the Governor General in Council is satisfied that India or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the Governor General in Council, if he thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may take or require or empower any person to take such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons as he shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall be defrayed.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the Governor General in Council may take measures and prescribe regulations for (a) the inspection of any ship or vessel leaving, or arriving at, any port in British India and such detention thereof, or of any person intending to sail therein or arriving thereby, as may be necessary; and
(b) the inspection of persons travelling by railway or otherwise and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecțing officer of being infected with any such disease.
(3) The Governor General in Council may, by general or special order, direct that all or any of the powers conferred by this Act may also be exercised by any Local Government with respect to the territories administered by it.
Penalty 3. 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. XLV of 1860.
Protection to persons acting under this Act. 4. No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done or in good faith intended to be done under this Act.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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