Leprosy would no longer be considered ground for divorce
(Sourced from PTI)
Parliament today passed a Bill removing leprosy as a ground for divorce under five personal laws including the Hindu Marriage Act. The Rajya Sabha on the last day of the Budget session passed the Bill without debate after consensus on the issue. However, consensus eluded on the Consumer Protection Bill 2018, which the government sought to push today. Read the details here.
The Upper House first passed The Personal Laws amendment Bill 2018 by voice vote. The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 seeks to remove leprosy as a ground for divorce in five personal laws. The personal laws include the Hindu Marriage Act, Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, Divorce Act (for Christians), Special Marriage Act and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act.
The Law Commission in its report had recommended repeal of laws and provision, which were discriminatory against leprosy-affected people. Besides, India is a signatory to a UN Resolution which calls for elimination of discrimination against leprosy patients. In 2014, the Supreme Court had also asked the Center and the state governments to take steps for rehabilitation and integration of leprosy-affected people into the mainstream.
Leprosy is a bacterial infection that affects the nerves of the extremities, skin, and upper respiratory tract. After the passage of personal law bill, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu took up the Consumer Protection Bill. TMC and left parties started protesting against it leading to 10-minute adjournment.
When the House reassembled, Naidu said there was a communication gap on the Consumer Protection Bill and the same wouldn't be taken up. The Consumer Protection Bill 2018 will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and seeks to strengthen consumer rights and provide a mechanism for complaint redressal regarding defects in goods and deficiency in services. It was passed by Lok Sabha last December.
While opposing the passage of the Bill without debate, TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said the proposed law would weaken the state consumer forums by giving disproportionate powers to the central consumer body. Left parties also opposed passage of the Bill without debate.
