Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: PIB
Context: The 22nd Law Commission of India has submitted Report No. 286 titled “A Comprehensive Review of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897” to the Government of India.
- Prompted by the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the realization of limitations in the legal framework regarding health, the Commission highlights the need to revisit and strengthen laws to effectively manage future health emergencies.
- The existing legislation, particularly the Epidemic Diseases Act, of 1897, is deemed inadequate in addressing emerging infectious diseases and novel strains of pathogens.
What is the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897?
It is routinely enforced across the country for dealing with outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, dengue, and cholera.
It was introduced by the colonial government to tackle the epidemic of bubonic plague that had spread in the erstwhile Bombay Presidency in the 1890s.
