The Goa government has approved key amendments to the Goa Prison Rules, aiming to eliminate archaic and discriminatory provisions concerning prisoners affected by leprosy, in line with Supreme Court mandates. The reference to "leprosy patients" as a specific category for post-release assistance has been deleted. Assistance will now focus on habitual and police-registered prisoners, without the stigmatizing label. In the rule for segregation of prisoners, while leprosy remains listed under contagious diseases, segregation can no longer be arbitrary. It now requires a medical opinion from a specialized Medical Officer for that specific sickness before any action is taken. By requiring a specialist's opinion for segregation, the state ensures that prisoners are not isolated based on social stigma, but rather on verified medical necessity. Furthermore, the removal of the term from Rule 663 ensures that rehabilitated individuals are not "tagged" by their medical history when seeking help from the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society. The proposal is currently slated for notification under the Goa Prison (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026.