The Indian Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on October 3, 2024, declaring that caste-based discrimination and labor allocation in prisons violate Article 15 of the Indian Constitution. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and his bench emphasized that caste cannot be a basis for discrimination against marginalized prisoners, stating that such practices are unconstitutional.
The ruling came in response to a public interest litigation filed by journalist Sukanya Shanta, which highlighted caste discrimination in prisons through her investigative report. The court mandated immediate amendments to state prison manuals to eliminate caste-related provisions that facilitate discrimination.
The court's decision is expected to ease the release process for impoverished prisoners and reinforce the principle that all individuals are born equal, deserving of dignity and humane treatment. The ruling directly impacts prison regulations in over ten states, including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, where such discriminatory practices have been prevalent.
By declaring caste-based labor allocation, such as assigning cleaning tasks to lower castes while giving cooking duties to upper castes, a violation of constitutional rights, the court aims to eradicate colonial remnants from the penal system. The decision also calls for the removal of caste-related information from prison registers, reinforcing the notion that caste should not determine the treatment of prisoners.
This ruling is a significant step towards social justice in India, potentially affecting over 70% of the prison population who have been awaiting justice while facing discrimination based on their caste.