NEW DELHI: Though leprosy is curable, laws still equate people affected by the disease with those suffering from lunacy. And under provisions of several marriage acts and the Indian Divorce Act , it is a legitimate ground for divorce.On a reference made from the law ministry to review discrimination against leprosy-afflicted people, the Law Commission has submitted a report along with a draft bill that not only recommends repeal of the Lepers Act, 1898 but seeks special privileges that are available for dalits and other marginalized classes of society. The law panel has recommended the repeal of the provision that a leprosy-affected person cannot contest elections. It has also urged that they be given land rights and other special privileges similar to those awarded to SC/ST and other communities for their uplift.The panel has sought provisions in law to punish those who use the term "leper" in a derogatory manner, besides banning the use of word "leper" in all government records and other public communication.“Leprosy is now a completely curable disease that can be rendered non-infectious early on in treatment itself, through multi-drug therapy, which has cured more than 15 million persons over two decades. Yet, the laws are discriminatory in India,” Law Commission chairman Justice AP Shah told TOI.Provisions under the Hindu, Muslims and Christian marriage acts are all discriminatory against persons affected by leprosy and under these legislations, serve as a legitimate ground for divorce or separation.Under the State Beggary Act, persons affected by leprosy are earmarked in the same category as persons suffering from lunacy. These laws also allow affected persons to be detained or confined to leprosy asylums indefinitely.Justice Shah said the law should be amended immediately so that persons affected by leprosy should not be detained or confined to leprosy asylums indefinitely only on account of their infection.“Additionally, the use of the term leper is derogatory and contributes to the stigma associated with the disease. Therefore, the Law Commission recommends that such a term should be removed from the statute book and all government records to curtail the perpetuation of the stigma associated with the disease,” he said.The law panel has also urged the government to consider providing quotas in educational institutions and in employment to encourage such persons to become financially independent.People affected by leprosy are not permitted to travel in public transport with the same freedom as others. The law panel has now said that they should get the right to travel in trains or the right to obtain a driving licence, as applicable.The panel has also suggested land rights to people affected by leprosy or explore alternative settlement options with the consent of the persons affected and their family members.There are about 850 colonies in India. It has also been estimated that no new leprosy colonies have come up in the last 14 years, although people diagnosed with the disease continue to migrate to existing colonies.