Hospitals can’t deny treatment to leprosy patients: Apex court

In a major step to ensure right to live with dignity to persons with leprosy, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed that no Government hospitals in the Centre, States and Union Territories shall decline treatment to such patients. In addition, the Court passed a slew of directions to ensure awareness about the curability of leprosy and sought repeal of archaic provisions from 119 statutes which discriminated or stigmatised persons affected by this disease.

Dealing with a PIL filed by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra observed, “Persons suffering from leprosy also have the right to live with human dignity” putting the onus on the Centre and States to ensure leprosy patients are rehabilitated and brought to the mainstream.

The Court directed specific programmes to be broadcast/telecast on All India Radio and Delhi Doordarshan at prime time to educate people that the disease is not communicable. Attorney General KK Venugopal said that efforts are on to delete such provisions from enactments that discriminate against leprosy patients. The Court directed its order to be sent to all Chief Secretaries of states/UTs for compliance. The implementation will be monitored on August 28, the next date of hearing.