Parliament on February 13, 2019, passed a Bill to remove leprosy as a ground for divorce under five personal laws, including the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on the last day of the Budget session without debate after consensus on the issue.
The Bill sought to amend five Acts - Divorce Act, 1869, Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, 1939, Special Marriage Act, 1954, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Minister for Law and Justice, Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, on August 10, 2018.
As per the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill the “Bill would ensure elimination of discrimination against the leprosy affected persons and provide for their integration into the mainstream of the society.”
The Bill reached to the Rajya Sabha after being passed in the Lok Sabha on January 7, 2019.
