Section 3A of EDA : Section 3A: Cognizance, Investigation And Trial Of Offences

Explanation using Example

Imagine a situation where during an outbreak of a contagious disease, a person is charged with intentionally spreading the infection by not following quarantine protocols mandated by the government. This act of non-compliance is considered an offence under Section 3 of The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

In this scenario, the law allows the police to:

• Immediately arrest the individual without a warrant as the offence is non-bailable and cognizable (point 1).
• Assign an Inspector-ranked officer to investigate the case (point 2).
• Complete the investigation within 30 days of the FIR being registered (point 3).
• Conduct the trial expeditiously, ideally completing it within a year, and if not possible, record the reasons for the delay (point 4).

This ensures a swift response to prevent further spread of the disease and serves as a deterrent to others who might consider violating public health safety measures.