Kerala High Court Rejects PIL Challenging Enhancement of Prisoners’ Wages

The Kerala High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the State Government’s decision to enhance the daily wages of prisoners engaged in work inside prisons to over ₹500 per day.

The PIL questioned the legality and reasonableness of the wage revision, contending that the increased wages were excessive and created an imbalance when compared to the earnings of several categories of law-abiding workers outside prison, who also bear their own living expenses. It was further argued that the decision violated Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before law.

Court’s Decision
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar VM declined to interfere with the policy decision of the State Government. The Court held that the payment of wages to prisoners is part of a broader rehabilitation and reform framework, intended to reintegrate inmates into society.

The Bench observed that:

• Fixation and revision of wages fall within the policy domain of the State
• Judicial interference is unwarranted in the absence of any manifest arbitrariness or constitutional violation
• A comparison with wages paid to other workers cannot, by itself, render the government decision unconstitutional

Revised Wage Structure

Under the revised scheme:

• Unskilled prisoners are entitled to ₹530 per day
• Semi-skilled prisoners will receive ₹560 per day
• Skilled prisoners will be paid ₹620 per day

The Court also noted that although the State bears the cost of prisoners’ food, accommodation, and clothing, this does not deprive them of the right to receive fair remuneration for work performed.

Conclusion
Holding that no legal or constitutional infirmity was made out, the High Court dismissed the PIL and upheld the State Government’s decision to revise prisoners’ wages.
Discription: The Kerala High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation challenging the State Government’s decision to enhance the daily wages of prisoners working in jails to more than ₹500 per day. The petitioner contended that the wage increase was arbitrary and disproportionate, especially when compared with the earnings of many law-abiding workers outside prison who bear their own living expenses. The Court, however, declined to interfere with the policy decision. A Division Bench observed that payment of wages to prisoners is part of a rehabilitation and reform process and falls within the policy domain of the State. It held that courts cannot interfere with such decisions unless there is clear arbitrariness or a constitutional violation. The Bench further noted that the mere fact that wages of other categories of workers have not been revised cannot invalidate the enhancement of prisoners’ wages. Consequently, the PIL was dismissed.