Caste bias in jails

THE Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which bans caste-based discrimination in prisons, is a monumental step toward dismantling entrenched social inequities. The order rightly underscores that even prisoners have the right to live with dignity. The SC called for the immediate revision of prison manuals across states, quashing outdated provisions that enforced caste-based segregation in labour assignments and housing arrangements. Caste-based discrimination within prisons often reflected broader societal biases. Historically, lower castes were forced into menial tasks like cleaning toilets while upper castes were assigned roles such as cooking. The court emphatically declared that no social group is born as a 'scavenger class,' and that the notion of certain occupations being degrading is an aspect of untouchability, explicitly prohibited under Article 17 of the Constitution.

The judgment identified practices in prison manuals that mirrored untouchability. For example, in states like Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, prison manuals explicitly directed that food be prepared by “suitable castes” and that certain marginalised groups handle cleaning tasks. The SC rightly condemned these provisions, calling them unconstitutional and a violation of the fundamental rights to equality and dignity. The ruling also condemned the categorisation of denotified tribes as habitual offenders, reinforcing harmful stereotypes that further marginalised these communities. Such practices have long been criticised by human rights organisations for reinforcing caste hierarchies and stripping marginalised prisoners of their dignity.

As states revise their prison manuals within the mandated three months, this judgment represents a crucial shift toward dismantling the oppressive systems that continue to harm the most vulnerable. The decision reminds us that justice and equality must extend to all, including those behind prison walls, bringing India closer to the constitutional promise of dignity for all its citizens.