Supreme Court Directs States to Identify and Repeal Discriminatory Laws Against Leprosy-Affected Persons

The Supreme Court has directed all States and Union Territories to form committees, preferably headed by Principal District Judges, to identify and compile discriminatory laws that affect persons suffering from leprosy.

The direction came in response to a PIL filed by the Federation of Leprosy Organizations (FOLO), which flagged over 145 outdated laws, especially in areas like marriage, property, and employment.

The Court noted that leprosy is now curable and no longer infectious after treatment. 

The next hearing is on July 30, 2025.