States, UTs told not to segregate prisoners on caste, class or religion

Union home ministry has asked states and Union Territories not to segregate prisoners based on their caste and religion and stop assigning duties, like managing prison kitchens, according to the discriminatory approach.

The move follows Supreme Court's observation in January that prison manuals in more than 10 States, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Kerala, continue to have provisions which sanction caste and religion-based discrimination and forced labour.

In 2022, clashes were reported between Hindu and Muslim prisoners after Hindu prisoners objected to Muslim inmates offering namaz. According to National Crime Records Bureau's prison statistics, 2022, 287,036 Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes and Other Backward Classes are among the undertrials, out of total 434,302, in Indian jails. The number of Muslim undertrials was 83,968 as compared to 283,372 Hindus, as per the NCRB report.


"It may be noted that the Constitution of India prohibits any kind of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, or place of birth. The model prison manual, 2016, prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs and circulated to all states and UTs in May 2016 explicitly prohibits caste and religion-based discrimination of prisoners in the management of kitchen or cooking of food on caste or religious basis," the letter sent to states and UTs noted.

The home ministry also advised states and UTs to seek financial aid for technology-driven projects in jails. The letter added that it has been advising states and UTs to ensure that due importance is given to physical and mental well-being of prisoners. Health check-ups, especially those who are old and specially abled, should be conducted regularly. Special check-ups of women and transgender prisoners should also be conducted besides periodic check-ups of inmates for their mental well-being, the letter said.