Leprosy is no longer a ground for divorce

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Leprosy is no longer a ground for divorce

News

Lok Sabha has passed The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

Important Facts

  1. The bill seeks to remove leprosy as a ground for divorce in five personal laws – Hindu Marriage Act, Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, Divorce Act (for Christians), Special Marriage Act and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act.

Rationale behind the amendment:

  1. Leprosy as ground for divorce is a “discriminatory” provision for a disease that is now curable.
  2. The Human Rights Commission and judgements of various courts had also underlined the need to amend the laws to remove this discrimination.
  3. The Law Commission in its report had also recommended repealing laws and provisions which were discriminatory against leprosy-affected people.
  4. Further, India is a signatory to a UN Resolution which calls for the elimination of discrimination against persons suffering from leprosy.
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