A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also asked the centre to consider framing a law to repeal all state and local laws that discriminate against those affected by the disease
The Supreme Court recently asked the centre to respond in four weeks to the suggestions mooted by an NGO to eradicate leprosy and on aspects like rehabilitation and curbing discrimination against those suffering from the disease.
The bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, perused the suggestions given by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy (VCLP), the NGO which has filed the PIL, on aspects like creating awareness, rehabilitation and sensitisation of common public about the disease.
Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for the NGO, said the suggestions pertained to “awareness, sensitisation and dissemination of action taken, non-discrimination, pensionary benefits for persons affected by leprosy, health care and rehabilitation, housing assistance, education, employment, livelihood, welfare and language and expression”.
The bench said, “We would request Venugopal, the Attorney General, to assist with regard to the aforesaid nine aspects by filing his suggestions within four weeks hence. All the states shall file their responses with regard to the steps taken and to be taken, keeping in view the constitutional goal.”
The VCLP has also sought a direction to the centre to bring an affirmative law to confer certain rights and benefits on persons suffering from leprosy and repeal all existing state and local laws which were discriminatory against them.
Venugopal sought six weeks time for taking a decision to make a central law.
VCLP, in its PIL, had listed 119 state and central laws that discriminated against leprosy patients and stigmatised them. It said that such outdated provisions denied them access to public services, impose disqualifications on them under personal laws and prohibited them from occupying or standing for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.