The Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases Act, 1957
[Published in Rajasthan Gazette (Raj.-Patra), Extra-ordinary, Part IV-A dated the 22nd November, 1957.]
CONTENTS
Sction
1. Short title, extent and commencement
2. Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic discases
3. Penalty
4. Protection to persons acting under Act.
5. Repeal
6. Rajasihan General Clauses Act to apply
THE RAJASTHAN EPIDEMIC DISEASES ACT, 1957
(Act No. 31 of 1957)
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 17th day of November, 1957)
An Act to provide for the prevention of the spread of epidemic diseases
Whereas it is expedient to make provision for the prevention of the outbreak or spread of dangerous
epidemic diseases in the State of Rajasthan :-
Be it enacted by the Rajasthan State Legislature in the Eighth Yeur of the Republic of India as follows :-
1. Short title, extent and commencement-(1) This Act may be called the Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases
Act, 1957.
(2) It extends to the whole of State of Rajaslban.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic diseases-
(1) When, at any time, the State Government is satisfied the State or any part thereof is visited by, or
threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the State Government, if it 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 it shall deem
necessary, to prevent to outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what
manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensations, if any) shall be defrayed.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the State
Government may take measures and prescribe regulations for the inspection of persons travelling by
railway or otherwise, and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise, of
persons suspected by the inspecting oficer of being infected with any such disease.
(3) The State Government may, by general or special order, empower a Collector to exercise in relation
to his district all the powers under this section exercisable by the State Government in relation to the
State othèr than the power to deterimine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred
(including compensation, if any) shall be defrayed.
(4) The exercise of powers delegated by the State Government to a Collector under sub-section (3) shall
be subject to such restrictions, limitation and conditions, if any, as may be specified by the State
Government and to the control of and to revision by, the State Government.
NOTIFICATION
[Notification No. F. 3(8) MPH/65/Gr-II, dated 4-12-1965, published
in Rajasthan Gazette, Part IV-C, Ordinary, dated 17-2-1966.]
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) read with sub- section (4) of section 2 of the
Rajasthan Epidemic Disease Act, 1957 (Rajasthan Act 31 of 1957), the State Government hereby
empowers all the Collectors of the Districts to exercise in relation to their respective Districts all the
power exerciseable by the State Government under section 2 of the said Act, other than the power to
determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any), shall be
defrayed :
Provided that the powers to prescribe regulations under sub-sections (1) and (2) of the said section shall
be excrcised by the said Collector in consulation with the Dircctor of Medical and Health Scrvices,
Rajasthan, Jaipur, and other Medical and Healrh authorities of the District concerned.
3. Penalty-Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this Act shall be deemed to have
committed an offence punishable under scction 188 of the Indian Penal Code (Central Act XLV of 1860).
COMMENTARY
General.-[A case under Orissa Regulations]-Where a person did not get himself inoculated against
Cholera, nor did he have in his possession a Certificate from a Medical practitioner showing that he had
been inoculated against cholera within a period of 6 months, he was guilty of contravening Regulations
7 and 8 of the Regulations made in exercise of the powers conferred on the State Government by
section 2(1) of the Epidemic Disease Act for the purpose of preventing the spread of cholera.
In such person felt that the Homeopathic method of providing immunity against attack of cholera should
be put on a par with the allopathic method of inoculation, it was open to lim to move the appropriate
authorities and get a suitable exemption clause inserted in the Regulations. But in the absence of such
an exemption clause he must be held to have contravened the provisions of the said Regulations. By
reason of paragraph 15 of the Regulations the person was guilty under S. 188 Penal Code.-J. Choudhury
vs. The State, AIR 1963 Orissa 216.
4. Protection to persons acting under Act-No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person
for anything done or in good faith mtended to be done under this Act.
5. Repeal-The Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 1957 (Rajasthan Ordinance 3 of 1957) is hereby
repealed.
6. Rajastlhan General Clauses Act to apply-The provisions of the Rajasthan General Clauses Act, 1955
(Rajasthan Act 8 of 1955) shall, as far as may be, apply mutatis inutandis to this Act.