The think-tank presented its case by stating that such laws and others are in violation of the fundamental rights of a person and requested the court to declare them as unconstitutional. These allegedly discriminatory laws are present in number of statutes. In fact, leprosy has been considered as a ground of divorce under the Special Marriage Act and the Hindu Marriage Act. Here are some of these laws:Personal laws: Hindu Marriage Act, Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, amended Indian Divorce Act, Special Marriage Act and Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act provide “virulent form of leprosy” as a ground for divorce, separation or annulment of marriage. Beggary laws: State laws like Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Begging Act, Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, Gujarat Prevention of Begging Act and other such state laws allow detention and confinement of the affected beggars and their dependents to Leprosy asylums.

Source: Indian Express December 05, 2017 06:00 UTC