In Brief
The Supreme Court of India held that caste-based discrimination in prisons violates the right to equality, dignity, and freedom from forced labour under the Constitution. Prison manuals assigning labour and segregating prisoners by caste reinforce historical untouchability practices and harm rehabilitation. The Court struck down such provisions across multiple state prison rules as violating Articles 14, 15, 17, 21, and 23. The classification of "habitual offenders" disproportionately targets Denotified Tribes, echoing colonial-era criminal tribes legislation. The Court directed all states to amend their prison manuals within three months and established a suo motu petition to monitor ongoing discrimination and ensure equal treatment of all prisoners based on individualized correctional needs, not caste identity.
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