THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Governor has signed the bill to prevent violence against hospitals and healthcare workers and the GST (Amendment) Bill.

The Governor signed the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill passed by the Assembly last week to replace the Ordinance issued after Dr Vandana Das was stabbed to death by an assailant at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital. The Hospital Protection Amendment Act stipulates imprisonment from one year to seven years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to 5 lakh. The entire hospital staff, including security guards and ambulance staff, will come under the ambit of the law. A court in each district will be given special mandate to try cases of assault on hospital staff.

The Kerala Taxation Rules (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was also signed to establish GST Appellate Tribunals in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The central government can issue a notification only after amending all the state GST laws. That is why the Governor signed the bill as per the central amendment.