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SC asks Centre why 119 laws that stigmatise and discriminate against leprosy patients shouldn’t be scrapped

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Leprocy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Supreme Court on Monday (December 4) issued a notice to the Centre seeking its response on a plea to repeal 119 laws that discriminate against leprosy patients, stigmatise and isolate them even though modern medicine completely cures the disease.

The Centre was told to reply within eight weeks.

Because of the disfigurement of individuals with untreated leprosy, people with leprosy have been shunned and isolated for many centuries. Fortunately, current multidrug therapy (MDT) cures leprosy effectively.

Leprosy is only very mildly contagious and acquisition of the disease usually occurs after long-term (months to years) contact with an untreated individual with the disease. It is passed from person to person via droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with an untreated individual with leprosy.

Hearing a PIL, filed by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, alleging discrimination against people afflicted with leprosy due to archaic provisions under numerous central and state laws, the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud asked the government to explain the existence of discriminatory laws pertaining to leprosy patients.

Appearing for petitioner, senior advocate Raju Ramachandran submitted that there are 119 laws that discriminate against leprosy patients and that these laws are violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

The petition says that the impugned provisions “institutionalize and perpetuate the humiliation and undignified treatment of persons affected by leprosy” and resultantly “violate their right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution”.

Leprosy patients, at present, are discriminated in many ways. The PIL cites Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, which allows a marriage to be dissolved by a decree of divorce on the ground that the other party has been suffering from a virulent and incurable form of leprosy.

Similarly, Section 2 of the Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act 1939; Section 27 of the Special Marriage Act 1954 also discriminated with the persons suffering from leprosy.

It said that Section 70(3)(b) of the Orissa Municipal Corporation Act, 2003, disqualified a person affected by leprosy from contesting elections for the post of corporator of the Municipal Corporation on account of his or her affliction by leprosy.

Similarly, section 19(f) of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, disqualified a leprosy victim from contesting elections for the post of a Panch or any other member of the Panchayati Raj Institution.

Under the state Beggary Acts, people affected by leprosy are treated in the same way as people suffering from lunacy. People suffering from leprosy can be arrested and detained for an unspecified duration.

The PIL states that the World Health Organisation explains that leprosy patients need not be treated in special clinics or hospitals; instead they can be treated along with people suffering from other diseases.

The petition also says that India has an international obligation to remove the stigma associated with leprosy and promote their social inclusion. India is a signatory to the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and also a member of the UN General Assembly that had passed a resolution on the Elimination of Leprosy.

The court has asked the government to explain the continued existence of laws which deny the truth that modern medicine cures leprosy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Entertainment

Amaal Mallik urges media to respect privacy after deleting emotional post on family estrangement

Amaal Mallik deleted a personal post detailing his struggles with depression and strained family ties. In a fresh statement, he urged the media not to sensationalise his vulnerability or harass his family.

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Amaal Mallik addresses mental health and family estrangement

Singer-composer Amaal Mallik, known for his work in Bollywood music, has taken down a deeply personal social media post in which he opened up about his clinical depression and a difficult relationship with his family. In a fresh statement issued on Instagram, he addressed the media and public reaction to his earlier post and urged for sensitivity during what he described as a “very tough time.”

In his new message, Amaal Mallik wrote,
“Thank you for the love and support, it truly means a lot, but I would request the media portals not to harass my family.. Please don’t sensationalise and give negative headlines to my vulnerability…It’s a request. It’s taken a lot for me to open up & it is a very tough time for me…I will always love my family, but for now, from afar. Nothing changes between us brothers, Armaan and I are one, and nothing can come between us. Love & Peace.”

The clarification followed the deletion of an earlier post in which Mallik shared that he had been clinically diagnosed with depression. He also revealed that despite composing 126 songs in his decade-long career, he felt undervalued, particularly by his family.

In the now-deleted post, Mallik spoke about strained ties with his brother Armaan, which he attributed to actions by their parents. He indicated that he would be maintaining only professional relations with his family going forward, stating that their behaviour had impacted his mental health and self-esteem.

An excerpt from his deleted post read:
“The journey has been terrific for both of us but the actions of my parents have been the reason we as brothers have gone too far from one another and all of this has made me step in for myself as it has left a very deep scar across my heart. Through the last many years, they have left no opportunity to disturb my well-being and belittle all my friendships, my relationships, my mindset, my self-confidence.”

He further admitted that while he holds himself accountable for his own actions, he felt repeatedly diminished by those closest to him, contributing significantly to his deteriorating mental health.

As the industry and fans react to Amaal’s honesty, the singer has requested that his vulnerability be met with compassion, not sensationalism. His heartfelt appeal seeks to redirect focus toward healing rather than headlines.

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Entertainment

Dhanashree Verma’s new song Dekha Ji Dekha Maine explores betrayal, abuse amid divorce from Yuzvendra Chahal

Choreographer Dhanashree Verma dropped a new song Dekha Ji Dekha Maine that portrays themes of betrayal and domestic violence, coinciding with her divorce from cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal.

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Choreographer and influencer Dhanashree Verma released a powerful new music video titled Dekha Ji Dekha Maine on the same day her divorce from Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal was legally granted by a family court in Mumbai. The emotionally charged track, launched under the T-Series banner, highlights themes of betrayal, domestic abuse, and emotional trauma within a royal marital setup.

The video stars Dhanashree alongside actor Ishwak Singh, known for his role in Pataal Lok. Set against a traditional Rajasthani backdrop, the visuals depict Verma as a woman enduring infidelity and physical violence from her husband. One scene shows her character being slapped in public, while another captures the husband engaging intimately with another woman in her presence.

The lyrics, penned by Jaani, cut deep. Lines such as “Dekha ji dekha maine, apno ka rona dekha. Gairon ke bistar pe, apno ka sona dekha” and “Dil tera bacha hai, nibhana bhool jata hai. Naya khilauna dekh ke, purana bhool jata hai” reflect the anguish of betrayal and emotional neglect in a relationship.

Sung by Jyoti Nooran, with music composed by Jaani, the song presents a striking narrative layered with raw emotion. Speaking about her role, Dhanashree said, “This was one of the most emotionally charged performances I’ve been a part of… It demanded a certain level of intensity, and I hope it resonates deeply with the audience.”

The release coincided with her official separation from Yuzvendra Chahal, whom she married in December 2020. As per reports, Chahal has agreed to pay an alimony of ₹4.75 crore as part of the divorce settlement.

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India News

Sambhal Court issues notice to Rahul Gandhi over fight against Indian state comment

Rahul Gandhi has been summoned by a Sambhal court over his statement that the opposition is fighting the Indian state, not just BJP or RSS.

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Rahul Gandhi addresses public at party headquarters

The District Judge Court of Sambhal has issued a notice to Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, seeking his response or appearance on April 4, in connection with a complaint filed over his controversial remark that opposition parties were not merely fighting the BJP or RSS, but the “Indian state” itself.

Statement triggers legal action

The legal proceedings stem from a statement made by Rahul Gandhi on January 15, during the inauguration of the Congress party’s new headquarters ‘Indira Bhawan’. In his address, Gandhi said, “Our ideology, like the RSS ideology, is thousands of years old, and it has been fighting the RSS ideology for thousands of years. Do not think that we are fighting a fair fight. There is no fairness in this. If you believe that we are fighting a political organisation called the BJP or RSS, you have not understood what is going on. The BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself.”

He also commented on the status of Indian institutions and media, suggesting that both were no longer functioning freely or fairly.

Revision petition leads to court summons

Advocate Sachin Goyal, representing complainant Simran Gupta, explained that a case was initially filed in the special MP/MLA court seeking registration of an FIR against Gandhi. However, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) dismissed the plea citing lack of jurisdiction.

Following this, a revision petition was filed, after which the Sambhal District Judge accepted the complaint and issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi. The court has asked him to either appear in person or file a formal response on or before April 4.

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