by Dr. BR Ambedkar truly captures the state of Indian prisons where caste has been engrained to such extent that it grades inmates into a discriminatory hierarchy. Worryingly, State Prison Manuals across India have actively entrenched this discrimination. These manuals segregate prisoners by caste and allocate them menial tasks of latrine cleaning and sweeping, often associated with their identity. In such a setting, the notion of incarceration usually means a double punishment for Dalit and Tribal prisoners; one characterized by loss of freedom, another of inhumane discrimination. These practices remain codified in archaic prison manuals. Despite constitutional promises of equality and judicial affirmations of dignity, caste prejudices persist behind the high walls of correctional facilities.
- A Legacy of Oppression
Caste is a vice of the masses, where those in a dominant position push down others to maintain their authority. Historically, the caste-based discrimination in Indian prisons has been continued in the form of labor division. From cleaning latrines and manual scavenging to other low-status works. Rules 5 and 67 of the segregated prisoners on the basis of their caste. A Scheduled Caste 鈥溾�� was assigned the task of cleaning latrines. The was no different. It provided for the separation of inmates based on caste under the pretext of maintaining societal harmony. What underlies these rules is the profound sense of alienation and dehumanization felt by prisoners who are forced to navigate the replication of caste hierarchy in their day-to-day lives in prison.
- Role of Courts in Reform
In (2024), the Supreme Court of India prohibited caste-based labour segregation. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud observed 鈥� but they were being relegated to such menial tasks due to their birth in a particular caste. The Court ordered that inmates from de-notified tribes should not be classified as habitual offenders, and that the column of caste should be mandatorily deleted from prison registers. The Court held that such a practice is not only against the principles of equality but is also violative of and of the Indian Constitution.
The judgment led to the Union Government amendment in the Model Prison Manual, 2016 and the adoption of the . In this judgment, the Court affirmed the dignity of prisoners and reiterated its conclusion in that prisoners retain their fundamental rights even behind bars.
There is a need for systemic reforms and strict implementation of those reforms in state prisons.
- Ongoing Challenges and the Need for Implementation
Caste discrimination lowers the value of individuals. Allocation of menial jobs in prisons on a caste basis strips inmates of their individuality. They are forced to follow archaic practices which often result in . Judicial and legislative changes are important, but they are not enough: need to change too. Instead of focusing on punishment, we should focus on rehabilitation and reintegration. We need to address in staff training and rehabilitation programs right away.
Independent oversight mechanisms are essential to ensure anti-discrimination laws are followed. Dalit and tribal communities should have a say in improving such correctional facilities. A prison advisory board with community representation from these groups, which could review complaints, monitor work allocations, and recommend disciplinary action against staff who violate non-discrimination norms, could be adopted. The situation could drastically change for the better if such people are given a chance to amend the laws for good.
- Establishing Prisons as Places of Equality
Prison discrimination mirrors India鈥檚 broader caste inequities issues that pervade education, employment, and healthcare. Caste-based discrimination plays a role in day-to-day life in every sphere, be it education, employment or healthcare access. The aspect which is to be stared at is the issue of caste beyond the boundaries of the prison.
The fight against caste discrimination in prisons is not complete until caste-based discrimination also disappears from greater society. For example, of South Indian requires the use of separate glasses according to the caste of the customer. It perpetuates segregation even in daily routines. While the above judgment prohibiting caste-based discrimination in prisons represents a judicial step 海角精品黑料, true equality is still a distant goal. Institutional and cultural changes like developing inclusive curricula, sensitizing staff, and benchmarking against international standards must be included to strengthen such steps. Therefore, a broader effort to uproot the caste system is crucial in eliminating discrimination from Indian prisons. Recent reforms are only one step ahead in breaking the deeply rooted social structures.
- Conclusion
Prohibiting caste-based discrimination in any sphere of society is a social and legal responsibility. Prisons are corrective institutions meant to rehabilitate people. But when these institutions become a place reflecting oppression, they injure more than they cure. When marginalised persons say, 鈥�Hum nahi karenge toh kaun karega?鈥� (If we don鈥檛 do it, who will?) these words remind us of how deeply entrenched these practices remain in India.
While the decision to get rid of caste in jail manuals is a big step toward equality and justice, it is not enough since it is not about changing the rules but about changing the way people think. As Justice Chandrachud in his judgment affirmed, 鈥�no social group is born as a scavenger class.鈥� No one should be categorised based on the group they were born in. This is not an isolated problem but a sign of deeper issues in the very system our society has cultivated. The obsolete mentality which judges a human being on the basis of something as anachronistic and regressive as caste must be done away with.
Awaneesh Kumar &补尘辫;听Vedik Bairwa
are final year law students at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar. The authors would like to thank Mr. Rakesh Rajan, a Chevening Scholar at SOAS, University of London, for his valuable insights during the process of this piece.