In an effort to safeguard on-duty doctors and healthcare professionals against violence, the government has proposed a new law seeking to treat such violence as cognizable and non-bailablecrime, appealing jail term of up to 10 years and penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh.

The draft bill linked to the Indian Penal Code says that whoever, while committing violence as referred to in sub-section (1), causes grievous hurt as defined in section 320 of the Indian Penal Code to any healthcare service personnel, shall, upon conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years, but might extend to ten years, and with fine, which shall not be less than two lakh rupees, but can extend to ten lakh rupees.

The provisions are part of the draft legislation - Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of violence and damage to property) Bill, 2019 have been put up on Monday by the health ministry appealing public comments within 30 days.