S.1 Short title and extent

       (1) This Act may be called the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
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       1[a] Substituted by A. L. O., 1950. [(2) It extends to the whole of India except 2[b] Substituted for "Part B States" by 2 A. L. O., 1956. [the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States.]] 3[c] Word "and" at the end of sub-section (2), and sub-section (3) repealed by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1914 (10 of 1914), S. 3 and Sch. II. [*]
       4[c] Word "and" at the end of sub-section (2), and sub-section (3) repealed by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1914 (10 of 1914), S. 3 and Sch. II. [(3)* * * * * * ]

S.2 Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic diseases

       (1) When at any time the 1[a] Substituted for the words "Provincial Government" by A. L. O., 1950. [State Government] is satisfied that 2[b] Substituted for the words "the Province", by A. L. O., 1950. [the State] or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the 3[a] Substituted for the words "Provincial Government" by A. L. O., 1950. [State Government], if 4[c] Substituted for the word "he", by A. L. O., 1950. [it] thinks fit 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 5[c] Substituted for the word "he", by A. L. O., 1950. [it] shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may de

S.2(a) Powers of Central Government

       When the Central Government is satisfied that India or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease and that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, the Central Government may take measures and prescribe regulations for the inspection of any ship or vessel leaving or arriving at any port in [the territories to which this Act extends) and for such detention thereof, or of any person intending to sail therein, or arriving thereby, as may be necessary.]

S.2(b) Power of State Government to requisition vehicles

       (1) Whenever it appears to the State Government that for the purpose of facilitating preventive or remedial measures, any vehicle is needed or is likely to be needed, for carrying men and equipments to and from any pan of the State which is visited by. or threatened with an out break of any dangerous epidemic disease, or tor carrying any person suffering from any infectious disease it may authorize the District Magistrate or any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Magistrate by a notification in Official Gazette ( hereinafter referred to as the "requisitioning authority"), to requisition any such vehicle ordinarily kept in the district by serving an order in writing on the owner of such vehicle, or in his absence, on any other person who has the vehicle under his control. The person on whom such order is served shall deliver possession of the vehicle, so requisitioned to the requisitioning authority or to such other pe

S.2(c) Principles and Method of determining compensation

       (1) Where any vehicle is requisitioned under this Act. there shall be paid compensation the amount of which shall be determined in the manner and in accordance with the principles hereitnafter set out. that is to say..
       (a) where the amount of compensation can he fixed by agreement it shall he paid in accordance with such agreement
       (b) where no suCH agreement can be reached, the State Government ahall appoint an officer not below the rank of an Additional District Judge as arbitrator:
       (c) the State Government may many particular case. nominate a person having expert knowledge us to the . nature of the vehicle requisitioned, to assist the arbitrator, and where such nomination is made. the person : to be compensated may also nominate an assessor for, the said purpose:, ..
   

S.2(d) Release from requisition

       ( 1 ) the State Government or the Requisitioning authority may, at any time, release any vehicle requisitioned under this Act and shall as far as possible, restore the vehicle after proper disinfection, if necessary, in as good a condition as it was when-possession thereof was taken, subject only to the changes caused by normal wear .and tear and irresistible force: .,.
       provided that where the purpose for which any requisitioned vehicle was being used ceases to exist, the State Government or the requisitioning authority shall release the vehicle, as soon as may be, from requisition.
       (2) .When any vehicle is to be released from requisition, a notice in writing shall be served on the owner or his authorised agent to take delivery of the vehicle on or within such date and from such place and person as may be specified in the notice and wi

S.2(e) Payment of compensation

       The amount of compensation payable under an award made under S. 2C shall, subject to any rules made under this Act, be paid to persons entitled thereto insuch manner and within such time as may be specified in the award.

S.2(f) Power to make rules

       (1) The State Government may, subject to previous publication, make rules not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
       (2) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature while it is in session for a totals period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified from or be of no effect, as the case may be: so however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that

S.3 Penalty

       Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this act shall bedeemed to have committed an offence punishable under S.188 of the India Penal Code, 1860.

S.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 intended to be done under this Act.