A Supreme Court bench of CJI Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud on Thursday (July 5) expressed strong displeasure at the non-implementation of programmes for the eradication of discrimination against the leprosy patients and issued fresh directions.
The bench issued following directions:
- Union of India, department of health and other concerned departments shall carry out awareness programmes at different levels so that people come to know about the curability of the disease and the non contagious nature of the same.
- Specific programmes on AIR and Doordarshan at central and state level and regional channels for educating people about that it is not a communicable disease.
- Programmes will be shown at an appropriate time/prime time so that it can be seen.
- Every person has a right to life and right to medication.
- Efforts to be made for rehabilitation by the centre and the state for the people suffering from leprosy.
“People suffering from leprosy shouldn’t feel that no one is there to look after them,” the bench noted after it was informed that implementation of programmes were lagging behind though the action plan had been prepared and filed and that only 11 states had filed counter affidavits.
The court was acting upon the PIL which raises concern on the discrimination meted out to leprosy patients in areas such as health, education, banking, housing etc. The PIL also challenges the contentions of the Central government that leprosy has been totally eradicated in India.
The hearing of the matter was adjourned to July 12.
—India Legal Bureau