Published on 09.05.2020
BIKANER: People all over the world are scared of the COVID-19 these days, but in the Bikaner state, a law was made for the prevention of serious diseases about 93 years ago. The cradle and neglect of the law was regularly monitored. Although a disease like corona was not identified at the time, severe diseases like cholera, plague started coming home. The erstwhile King of the princely state Maharaja Ganga Singh (1880-1943) was vigilant in this matter and got the ‘Infectious disease Act’ enacted and approved.
According to the documents present in the Rajasthan State Archives in Bikaner, the law was enacted in the year 1927 for the prevention of serious diseases, cradle of law and public awareness. The Act named ‘Khatarnak Phelne Wali Bimario Ka Act (Infectious disease Act 1927) was passed by the Bikaner state assembly in view of the spread of two diseases namely plague and cholera. According to the Director of Rajasthan State Archives Bikaner, Dr. Mahendra Khadgavat, it was approved by the then Maharaja of Bikaner on January 1, 1927.
The Act states that it would be applicable once the state notified the outbreak or pre-empt the spread of any infectious disease in the state or the neighbouring state. Documents at Rajasthan State Archives Bikaner suggest that how the Act helped the state preventing its people from the spread of any infectious disease till it was merged with India. At present, the country has banned the entry of foreigners and sealed its borders as an effective tool to stop the spread. The erstwhile rulers have also on occasions formed check-posts at borders screening the entry of outsiders by the health workers at public places including the railway station, bus station, kutchery (Court) and other public places. The country is yet to make the violators of stringent measures as a punishable offence; the former rulers have granted the special powers under the Act to run a legal case against them. Reportedly, Maharaja Ganga Singh was the first king to have introduced state assembly in then united India.
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