In Brief

This writ petition, filed in public interest on the basis of a letter from former Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti highlighting inhuman prison conditions across 1,382 Indian prisons, seeks comprehensive prison reforms. The Supreme Court found widespread overcrowding, inadequate staff, insufficient training, and minimal progress despite 35 years of prior orders. The Court held that prisoners deserve dignity under Article 21, directed implementation of a revised Model Prison Manual 2016 across all prisons, mandated quarterly Under Trial Review Committees to release eligible undertrial prisoners, required adequate legal aid provision, and ordered establishment of a Management Information System. The Court also directed preparation of a similar manual for juveniles in custody. The matter was partly disposed of with directions; remaining issues on custodial deaths and staff training to be heard subsequently.

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