PUBLIC HEALTH AND LEGAL DIMENSIONS OF COVID-19 IN INDIA: AN ANALYSIS

Author – Dr. Sameera Khan, Aligarh Muslim University

Best Citation – Dr. Sameera Khan, PUBLIC HEALTH AND LEGAL DIMENSIONS OF COVID-19 IN INDIA:AN ANALYSIS, Indian Journal of Legal Review (IJLR), 3 (1) of 2023, Pg. 567-572, ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

The Covid-19 Pandemic affected all spheres of life across the globe be it social, economic, political, and cultural. The Pandemic came without a warning and the unpreparedness of the states around the globe was exposed. The legislative provisions to tackle the Pandemic were also found to be inadequate since they were outdated and enacted without envisioning a Pandemic of such a large scale. The provisions invoked by the Government were the 160 years old Indian Penal Code, 1860, the 123 years old Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and specific sections of Disaster Management Act, 2005. The execution of these laws was inadequate in controlling the spread of the virus. In order to provide a quick redressal, the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was also promulgated by the President. The vulnerability of the public health system in the face of the Pandemic was exposed. The aim of the paper is to examine the response of the Government to the Covid-19 Pandemic using legislative and constitutional provisions. It aims to identify the gap in existing legislation and the grey areas in the statutory provisions. The author further suggests recommendations for the amendment of current legislation.

Keywords: Covid-19, Pandemic, Public Health, Legal Dimensions, Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, Disaster Management Act, 2005.