SC asks Centre, states to work for eradication of leprosy

The Supreme Court today asked the Centre and the states to "rise to the occasion" and work for eradication of "curable" leprosy, besides removing the archaic provisions from 119 laws that discriminate against and stigmatise those affected.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said with the advancements in medical science, it has been an admitted position that leprosy is curable and mere deletion of legal provisions, which are discriminatory against the affected persons, will not help.

"The Centre and states shall rise to the occasion and act to eradicate the disease. Leprosy is a curable disease in the obtaining circumstances," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said, adding that the Central government "shall take it up with states".

It considered the submission of Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand that the Centre was taking steps to ensure deletion of certain provisions from a number of enactments as these "cast stigma on persons suffering from leprosy".

The bench asked the states to file a report along with compliance affidavit in six weeks giving details about the steps taken to remove objectionable provisions from various statutes which discriminated against the persons suffering from the disease.

The bench was hearing a PIL of Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy (VCLP) which has listed 119 state and central laws that discriminate against leprosy patients and stigmatise them.

Such outdated provisions denied them access to public services, impose disqualifications on them under personal laws and prohibited them from occupying or standing for public posts or office, the plea has said.

It referred to one such provision of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 that allows dissolution of marriage if one of the partners has been "suffering from a virulent and incurable form of leprosy."