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The Supreme Court addressed the issue of caste-based discrimination in Indian prisons.
The ruling emphasizes the importance of human dignity and equality for all individuals, including prisoners.
Supreme Court Ruling on Caste-Based Discrimination in Prisons
Caste Discrimination Declared Oppressive: The Court ruled that treating prisoners differently based on caste is a violation of fundamental human dignity.
The Court ordered that prison manuals must be updated within three months to eliminate caste-related references.
The ‘caste column’ in prison registers for undertrials and convicts is to be removed.
The ruling states that individuals from denotified tribes should not face arbitrary arrests.
The Chief Justice highlighted that Article 15(1) of the Constitution guarantees the right against discrimination, stating that everyone is born equal.
Compelling marginalized prisoners to perform certain tasks based on caste constitutes coercion, violating Article 23, which prohibits forced labor.
The Court criticized prison manuals that label certain groups as "born criminals," reinforcing outdated caste discrimination.
The Court asserted that classification of prisoners should be based on factors like work aptitude and needs, not caste.
The ruling noted that caste-based segregation and practices amount to untouchability, which is forbidden under Article 17 of the Constitution
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