Centre amends prison manual to address caste-based inequality

The Union Home Ministry has amended the prison manual rules to check discrimination and classification of inmates in jails on the basis of their caste. In a communication, sent on December 30, to chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, the Union Home Ministry said Model Prison Manual, 2016, and the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023, have been amended to address the issue of any caste-based discrimination of prisoners. The changes have been made in the wake of the October 3, 2024 order of the Supreme Court on the caste-based discrimination of prisoners.

According to the new addition in the manual, the prison authorities will have to strictly ensure that there is no discrimination, classification, segregation of prisoners on the basis of their caste. “It shall be strictly ensured that there is no discrimination of prisoners in allotment of any duty or work in prisons on the basis of their caste,” the letter states.

According to the MHA, changes have also been made in the Miscellaneous’ of the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023, with a new heading ‘Prohibition of caste-based discrimination in Prisons and Correctional Institutions’ as Section 55(A). “The provisions of ‘The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013,’ shall have a binding effect even in prisons and correctional institutions. Manual scavenging or hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank inside a prison shall not be permitted,” the letter said.