Supreme Court Abolishes Caste-Based Discrimination in Indian Prisons

The court mandates an overhaul of prison manuals across states to ensure equality and dignity for all inmates.

The Supreme Court declared caste-based discrimination in prisons unconstitutional, impacting 10 states' jail manuals.
The verdict mandates revisions to prison rules within three months to eliminate discriminatory practices against marginalized communities.
The court emphasized that caste-based labor assignments violate Articles 14, 15, 17, 21, and 23 of the Indian Constitution.
Prisoners should not be assigned tasks like sweeping or cooking based on caste, ensuring a fair distribution of labor.
The judgment calls for the removal of caste references in prison records and a compliance report from states and the Union government.