 bill no 88 of 1983j ,  the lepers (delhi, andaman and nicobar islands, lakshadweep, dadra and nagar haveu and chandigj\rh repeal) bill, 1983 a billto provide for the' repeal oj the lepers act, 1898, as in force in the union territories oj delhi, aadaman and nicobat islands, lakshadweep, dadra and nagar haveli and chandigarh be it enacted by parliament in the thirty-fourth year of the republic of india- as follows:-1 this act may be called the lepers (delhi, andaman and nicobar short islands, lakshadweep, dadra and nagar haveli and chandigarh repeal) title s act, 1983 repeal"! act 3 of )898 2 the lepers act, 1898, as in force in the union territories of delhi, andaman and nicobar islands lakshadweep, dadra and nagar haveli ,  and chandigarh, q; hereby repealed   statement of objects and reasonsthe enactment of the lepers act, 1898 (3 of 1898) was based on the then prevailing knowledge about leprosy, the means available for its treatment and control and the age-old stigma attached to the ctisease it was considered that the disease was incurable, that all lepers are infectious and· it is essential to restrain movement of pauper lepers and prohibit leprosy patients from following certain trades and doing certain acts the act made provisions to prevent 'spread of the di'sease to others 2 in the light of recent scientific advancements, the concept about leprosy as regards its causation, spread, infectivity and treatment has undergone a radical change leprosy tis curable its treatment is possible in patients' own homes without attecting their normal pursuits of life the physical deformities, which may arise out of tms disease, 'are preventable and correctible it; '3 most of the le~osy patients are non-infectious the few infectious cases can be made non-infectious within a short period by modern treatment the problem of their infectivity is, however, to be tackled by taking common' precautions, as in <:ase of other infectious diseases along • with this treatment 4 in these circumstances, it is considered necessary to repeal the lepers act, 1898 since the said act provides for matters in the state list, parliament cannot repeal it except in respect of the union territories the object of the bill is to repeal the said act as in force in the union territories without legislatures, namely,' delhi, andaman and nicobar islands, lakshadweep, dadra and nagar haveli and chandigarh l :5 the bw seeks to give effect to the above object new delm; b 8hankaran/lnd the 28th april, 1933 - ,  \ billto provide for the repeal of the lepers act, 1898, as in force in the union territories of delhi, andaman and nicobar islands, lakshadweep, dadra and nagar haveli and chandigarh , (shri b: shankaranand, ministe1' of health and family wel/o7'f) 