New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has amended the rules in the prison manual to address caste-based discrimination within jails. The amendments were made in response to a Supreme Court ruling on October 3, 2024, which called for measures to end such discrimination among inmates.

In a directive to the chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, the Home Ministry highlighted changes to the 'Model Prison Manual, 2016' and the 'Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023'. These amendments explicitly prohibit the segregation or classification of prisoners based on their caste.

No caste-based discrimination in prison duties

The updated rules mandate that prison authorities ensure there is no caste-based discrimination in the allocation of work or duties. "It shall be strictly ensured that there is no discrimination of prisoners in allotment of any duty or work in prisons on the basis of their caste," the directive stated.

The new provisions also introduced a section under 'Miscellaneous' in the 'Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023,' specifically addressing caste-based discrimination. This addition, Section 55(A), categorically prohibits caste-based discrimination in all prisons and correctional institutions.

Ban on manual scavenging in prisons

Further, the Home Ministry has reinforced the prohibition of manual scavenging within prisons. The provisions of 'The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013' now apply in prisons, ensuring that hazardous cleaning tasks such as sewer or septic tank cleaning are not permitted in these facilities.

Supreme Court order leads to changes in Habitual Offenders legislation

Following the Supreme Court's order on habitual offenders, the Home Ministry has also updated definitions in the prison manual. It added that any person convicted of multiple offences within a five-year period would be classified as a habitual offender. Importantly, periods spent in detention or prison are not counted towards the five-year duration.

The Home Ministry further pointed out that since several states and Union territories have not enacted Habitual Offenders legislation, the definition now replaces the existing one in the Model Prison Manual, 2016 and the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023.

With PTI inputs