Supreme Court rejects caste based segregation of Prisoners
Last Updated on October 16, 2024 by Srijan Raj
In a historic decision, the Madras High Court’s earlier order on caste-based prison segregation was overturned by the Supreme Court of India. Journalist Sukanya Shantha of The Wire filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which prompted this ruling.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court emphasised that the Indian Constitution does not support the “separate but equal” theory, claiming that putting inmates in separate caste-based units does not deter violence but rather upholds inequality and injustice. The decision has been welcomed as a major step towards guaranteeing fair treatment and equal rights for all people, regardless of caste, inside the criminal justice system.
According to the PIL, the Constitution’s cherished ideals of justice and equality are violated when inmates are divided into groups according to their caste. The Supreme Court’s ruling upholds the dedication to these ideals and establishes a standard for situations involving caste-based discrimination in the future. It is anticipated that this ruling will have a significant impact, leading to changes in jail administration and procedures to better comply with the constitution’s guarantee of equality and nondiscrimination.
