In Brief

This 2016 Supreme Court judgment addresses persistent over-crowding in Indian prisons, where many facilities exceed capacity by 150% or more. The Court found that despite earlier directions, prison authorities had taken no effective steps to remedy the situation. The Court reiterated that prisoners—both convicted and under-trial—retain fundamental and human rights under Article 21 of the Constitution, including the right to life with dignity. The Court directed States to prepare viable Plans of Action within six months and the Ministry of Women and Child Development to complete a Manual for juveniles in custody by November 2016, emphasizing that prisoners' constitutional rights cannot be ignored regardless of their circumstances."]

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