Attack against doctors may soon draw 10 yrs in jail, Rs 10L fine

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to protect on-duty doctors and healthcare professionals against violence, the government has proposed a new law seeking to treat such violence as cognisable and non-bailable offence, attracting jail term of up to 10 years and penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh.


The provisions are part of the draft legislation - Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of violence and damage to property) Bill, 2019 - put up by the health ministry on Monday inviting public comments within 30 days.

The draft bill linked to the Indian Penal Code says, "Whoever, while committing violence as referred to in sub-section (1), causes grievous hurt as defined in section 320 of the Indian Penal Code to any healthcare service personnel, shall, upon conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years, but which may extend to ten years, and with fine, which shall not be less than two lakh rupees, but which may extend to ten lakh rupees."