NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has cleared the Personal Laws (amendment) Bill that seeks to strike down leprosy as a ground for divorce by making amendments in divorce acts for Christians, Muslims and Hindus, besides others.

Though leprosy is curable, laws still equate people with the disease with those suffering from lunacy. And under provisions of 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 had in April 2015 submitted a report along with a draft bill that recommended repeal of the Lepers Act , 1898 and sought special privileges that are available for Dalits and other marginalised classes of society. The draft bill also sought 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.

India is a signatory to a UN resolution which calls for elimination of discrimination against persons suffering from leprosy. In 2014, the Supreme Court had also asked the Centre and the state governments to take steps for rehabilitation and integration of leprosy affected people into the mainstream.

