Date:18/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/18/stories/2007121854120400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Ordinance to protect State staff discussed

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD : The State Cabinet, which met here on Monday, discussed the possibility of promulgating an ordinance on the lines of the one proposed for junior doctors to protect government servants against attacks.

Some of the Ministers were said to have suggested to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy that government employees also be given protection against attacks as in the case of junior doctors. However, the Cabinet deferred a decision since the Centre’s permission was required to make attacks against government staff cognisable and non-bailable offences.

Sources said the staff were already protected under Sec. 353 of the Indian Penal Code which provided for punishment to offenders if they assaulted or prevented public servants from discharging their duties.

Since a law was already there to protect them, a separate ordinance to make the offence cognisable and non-bailable would require changes in the Criminal Procedure Code with the assent of the President. All the Ministers were said to have supported the ordinance proposed for junior doctors.

The Cabinet devoted most of the time to discussing the agitation by junior doctors and the incidents of attack against them by Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislators.

Home Minister K. Jana Reddy said that MIM legislator Afsar Khan was indeed arrested in the incident at Niloufer Hospital and released immediately on bail as the offence was bailable.