The Supreme Court took a major step toward eliminating caste-based discrimination in Indian prisons. The court struck down certain prison rules that allowed separating prisoners and assigning work based on caste. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who led the bench, stressed that caste should never be a reason for discrimination against prisoners.

Important Directions by the Court

The court issued several key orders to stop caste-based discrimination in jails. It stated that prisoners from marginalized groups should not be treated unfairly or kept in separate wards because of their caste. Additionally, the court ruled that prisoners must not be forced to do dangerous work, like cleaning sewers, simply because of their caste. Police were instructed to act quickly and seriously in cases of discrimination.

Equal Work for All Prisoners

The Supreme Court made it clear that prisoners, no matter their caste, have the right to a fair share of work inside jails. It ordered all states to change their prison rules within three months. The court pointed out that choosing sweepers from certain castes goes against the idea of equality.

Background of the Case

The case was brought to court by Sukanya Shantha, from Kalyan, Maharashtra. She argued that some states, including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala, had prison rules that discriminated based on caste, with certain tasks like cooking or cleaning being assigned to specific castes. The court declared this practice unacceptable.

This judgment is an important step towards ensuring equality and respect for all prisoners, regardless of their caste.