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The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark judgment, declaring an end to the longstanding practice of caste-based discrimination within prisons across the country. This ruling, delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, addresses the deeply entrenched discriminatory practices faced by marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and de-notified tribes, within the prison system.
The court's verdict specifically targets provisions in prison manuals that perpetuate caste-based segregation and discriminatory work assignments. The bench asserted that such practices are unconstitutional, violating fundamental principles of equality enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The court declared that discrimination based on caste, whether direct or indirect, is a relic of colonial rule and has no place in a modern, democratic society.
The judgment mandates immediate reforms across all states, requiring them to amend their prison rules to eradicate these discriminatory practices. The Supreme Court has ordered all states to file compliance reports within three months, demonstrating their adherence to the court's directives. The Union government has also been directed to revise the model prison rules of 2016, which, according to the court, contain provisions that enable and perpetuate caste-based discrimination.
The court specifically addressed the practice of assigning menial tasks, such as cleaning and sweeping, to prisoners from marginalized castes, while reserving more desirable tasks like cooking to higher castes. This practice, according to the court, violates Article 15 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of caste. The court also emphasized that such practices fail to meet the test of intelligible differentia and do not contribute to the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners, as they are designed to do.
The court further highlighted the practice of classifying prisoners as 'habitual offenders,' often targeting de-notified tribes, a practice rooted in colonial stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes. The court declared this classification unconstitutional, stating that members of de-notified tribes should not be stereotyped as criminals from birth. The court underscored that this practice violates Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life with dignity.
The Supreme Court's judgment represents a significant step towards ensuring equality and dignity for all prisoners, regardless of their caste or social background. The court's directives to overhaul prison manuals and practices are crucial in addressing the deeply ingrained issue of caste-based discrimination within the prison system. The court's decision sends a strong message that caste-based discrimination is unacceptable and must be eradicated from all aspects of Indian society.
Source: SC strikes down caste-based discrimination in prisons, orders overhaul