In Brief

This petition concerns severe over-crowding in Indian prisons, with many facilities exceeding 150% capacity, creating health, sanitation, and discipline problems. The Court held that prisoners—both convicts and under-trials—retain fundamental rights and human rights under Article 21 of the Constitution that cannot be ignored despite incarceration. Affirming decades of precedent, the Court emphasized that the right to life with dignity is meaningless unless given practical effect. The Court directed States to prepare viable plans to reduce over-crowding with specific timelines and resource allocation, and ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs to report compliance by October 18, 2016.

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