Set Code-B

Coronavirus Act-2020

Introduction-

This novel coronavirus was named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by WHO in
February 2020. The virus is referred to as SARS-CoV-2 and the associated disease is
COVID-19. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. It is the new strain which was not identified
previously in human body. The virus is typically present in the respiratory track,
sometimes the symptoms are seen and sometimes there are no symptoms seen in the
infected person, the spread of the virus is due the touch i.e. the droplet which is been
released while sneezing or coughing which come in the contact with the other person eyes,
nose or mouth, then there are chances of being affected by this virus. This means that if a
person remains well after 14 days after being in contact with a person with confirmed
COVID-19, they are not infected. Common symptoms of this are respiratory symptoms,
Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath Breathing difficulties Fatigue, Sore throat

Impact of coronavirus on India-

A} Impact on Economy-

The economic impact of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in India has been largely
disruptive. There was a drop in the economy due to the coronavirus pandemic which
effected the Indian economy. There was national lockdown due the spreading of corona
virus. Which effect the economy and raise in unemployment? While many of the
companies cut off the salaries. More than 50% of the companies were affected. This
pandemic outbreak highly effected on daily wages worker class which were unemployed.
The Government of India announced a variety of measures to tackle the situation, from
food security and extra funds for healthcare and for the states, to sector related incentives
and tax deadline extensions.

B} Impact on Health-

As the COVID-19 is a new and unknown disease, there is much uncertainty about it and
no readymade solutions As the coronavirus pandemic rapidly increase across the world, it
started creating fear, worry and concern in the population at large and among cert ain
groups in particular, such as older adults and people with underlying health conditions. In
public mental health terms, the main psychological impact to date is elevated rates of stress or
anxiety. But as new measures and impacts are introduced especially quarantine and its effects
on many people’s usual activities, routines or livelihoods levels of loneliness, depression,
harmful alcohol and drug use, and self-harm or suicidal behaviour are also expected to rise.

C} Impact on Education-

As a part of nationwide lockdown Government has closed all educational institutions, as

D} Impact on Personal life and liberty-

The Constitution guarantees the right to life and liberty under Article 21. But never before have
these fundamental rights been treated as contrasted to each other. But they are today. To
preserve life, in its real, actual and most basic sense, we are ready to give up liberty. The more
liberty we surrender, the higher the likelihood that we preserve the right to life. As much of the
world enters various phases of lockdowns, scholars are trying to find a legal basis of the
lockdowns and other legal measures undertaken by governments to fight the coronavirus.

Need of Coronavirus Act, 2020-

The nationwide lockdown has been central to the government’s strategy to fight against the
COVID-19 pandemic. With businesses closed, supply chains disrupted, timelines extended and
contracts terminated, this exercise has caused the organised sector unprecedented economic
losses. While the lockdown has helped contain community spread of the disease, a legal and
legislative audit of this exercise has evaded scrutiny so far. The lockdown was carried by the
state government and district authorities under the direction of Union Ministry of Home Affairs
under the Disaster Management Act of 2005,which was intended the National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) was set up under the leadership of the Prime Minister, and
the National Executive Committee (NEA) was chaired by the Home Secretary. On March 24,
2020, the NDMA and NEA issued orders directing the Union Ministries, State governments
and authorities to take effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and laid out
guidelines illustrating which establishments would be closed and which services suspended
during the lockdown period. Taking a cue from the guidelines, the State governments and
authorities exercised powers under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 to issue further
directions.

Infectious Disease Regulation Act-

Individuals who are at risk can be sent to a Government-specified accommodation facility, that
is if a particular person who is suffering or who has a risk of minute symptoms that person will
be send to a government specified accommodation, place where there are no chances of
spreading of the disease from infected or who have light symptoms. U.K. enacted the
Coronavirus Act, 2020, which is a comprehensive legislation dealing with all issues connected
with COVID-19 including emergency registration of healthcare professionals, temporary
closure of educational institutions, audio-visual facilities for criminal proceedings, powers to
restrict gatherings, and financial assistance to industry. Similarly, Singapore has also passed
Infectious Diseases Regulations, 2020: These regulations provides for the issuance of stay
orders which can send ‘at-risk individuals’ to a government-specified accommodation facility.
Both U.K.’s and Singapore’s laws set out unambiguous conditions and legally binding
obligations. Both the U.K.’s and Singapore’s laws set out unambiguous conditions and legally
binding obligations. As such, under Singaporean law, the violators may be penalised up to
$10,000 or face six months imprisonment or both. In contrast, Section 188 of the Indian Penal
Code has a fine amount of ₹200 to ₹1,000 or imprisonment of one to six months.

Special provisions of the Epidemic Act-

The Epidemic Act consists of a total four sections, which are amended time to time as and
when required. Section 2 of the Act provides with the special provisions for regulations to be
imposed by the government at the time of any dangerous epidemic disease. This provision
gives powers to the State Government if it is satisfied that any part of the state is affected by
or threatened to be affected by outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease and if the
government feels that there are no measures in the ordinary provisions of law to deal with the
said epidemic, the State Government may take measures such as, To inspect the person
travelling, Separation of people suspected and been diagnosed with disease in hospital or to
shift them for the safeguard of the public at large which shall be temporary in nature in order
to prevent the outbreak of such a disease. Section 2A empowers the Central Government to
inspect ships and vessels leaving or arriving in the territories of India and also empowers the
government to detain such vessels if required. Section 3 provides with the penalties for
disobeying the regulations made by the government under section 2 and 2A. The punishment
for such disobedience shall be the same as Section 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). Section 4
protects the government and its employees and officers from any prosecution, civil or criminal,
for doing anything in good faith.

Case law - Shakuntala P. Devlekar vs Surat Municipal Corporation on 30 April, 2002

Provisions under CrPC- Sec. 188-

Section 188 IPC covers offences related to ‘contempt of lawful authority of public servants’.
The provision specifically deals with the offence of disobedience to an order duly passed by a
public servant. As per this provision, any person who has the knowledge of an order passed by
a competent public servant, by which he is directed to abstain from doing any act or a certain
direction with respect to property possessed or held by him, disobeys such direction, he shall
be liable to be punished under this section. Section 188 is a cognizable offence and thus, apart
from powers of arrest without warrant which accrue to the police in such offences, the police
can register a FIR and initiate investigation into such offence.

Important case laws-

• Spreading of Covid-19 virus in Prisons-2020 SCC online SC 320

Conclusion-

This type of pandemic was a new and unknown disease there is much uncertainly i.e. no one
knew about it and on one had readymade solution. All the major countries faced problem,
economical breakdown, loss of health as well as wealth. Lockdown was implemented to stop
of the spreading of covid-19 and to have control on this virus. The Epidemic Act of India 1897
which was implemented for the betterment of the life. Country had faced major economical
loss. New measures were taken to control the communal spread of this virus. Strict action was
taken for the social gathering, action against the violator, immediate FIR against the violator
fine up to 50,000, regional imprisonment. These types of safety, measure have been taken by
the government.
Refrences-

Online data stores-

https://www.mondaq.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/

https://www.hindustantimes.com/

https://www.thehindu.com/

https://www.civilsdaily.com/