Bias behind bars: SCs, minorities at the receiving end

THE Prison Statistics India Report-2023, released by the National Crime Records Bureau last week, has some worrisome findings about the caste and socioeconomic status of prisoners, particularly in Haryana. The proportion of Scheduled Castes (SC) behind bars was significantly higher than their share in the state’s population. This trend has also been witnessed in the case of Muslims. At the national level, too, the situation is similar.

It’s apparent that marginalised and underprivileged sections of society don’t have easy access to legal aid. The prejudices they face in prisons and correctional institutions make it harder for them to seek timely judicial redressal. A year ago, the Supreme Court had declared caste-based discrimination and classification of prisoners as unconstitutional and directed the Centre as well as states to revise their prison manuals and rules. Subsequently, the Union Home Ministry had amended the Model Prison Manual, 2016, and the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023. A pan-India assessment should be done to gauge the impact of these amendments on the ground. Gaps in implementation must be plugged in consonance with the SC order.

Apart from discrimination both within and outside jail, a key reason why SCs and minorities find themselves in the crosshairs of the law is the paucity of gainful employment opportunities. Poverty and joblessness force some people from the lower strata to turn to crime. And the police are also more likely to view them with suspicion because of their poor socioeconomic conditions. This sorry state of affairs runs counter to the Union government’s mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas. A level playing field is a must to ensure that every Indian contributes to the nation’s progress, overcoming barriers of caste, class and religion.