Are prisoners being kept in Jharkhand jails on the basis of caste? The report after surprise inspection shocked the senses

News India Live, Digital Desk: Does caste discrimination still persist in the prisons of modern India? A recent report related to the jails of Jharkhand has raised this serious question. During the surprise inspection of jails, it has come to light that in some jails, the influence of caste basis has been seen in the maintenance of prisoners and the allocation of their work. As soon as this report became public, there was a stir in human rights organizations and administrative corridors.

What was revealed during the inspection?

According to a report prepared after a recent high-level inspection, in some major jails of Jharkhand, the work given to prisoners, such as cooking or cleaning in the kitchen, was being decided on the basis of their caste. This is not only a violation of the Jail Manual, but also violates the right to equality given by the Indian Constitution.

prison manual vs reality

According to the Model Jail Manual, there should be no discrimination against any prisoner on the basis of his caste, religion or community. They can be kept in different barracks only depending on the nature of their crime and their behaviour. However, the inspection found that in many places old and conservative traditions are still in effect, which is considered to be the result of administrative neglect.

Administration’s cleanliness and strict instructions

As soon as the matter gained momentum, the jail administration issued a clarification on this. Officials say that any kind of caste discrimination will not be tolerated. Strict instructions have been issued to all jail superintendents to ensure that classification of prisoners is based only on security and legal standards.

Supreme Court’s tough stance

Let us tell you that in recent years, the Supreme Court had also expressed strong displeasure over the caste discrimination prevalent in jails across the country. The court had clarified that linking tasks like cleaning and cooking inside jails to caste is unconstitutional. After this report of Jharkhand, there is now pressure on the state government to take concrete steps towards prison reforms.