{"id":162609,"date":"2025-04-18T19:41:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T14:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=162609"},"modified":"2025-04-18T19:41:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T14:11:41","slug":"prison-reforms-in-india","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/prison-reforms-in-india","title":{"rendered":"Prison Reforms in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently<\/span>, India Justice Report 2025 <\/b>was published which highlighted that Indian jails face extreme overcrowding and are battling multiple health challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Highlights of Report on Prison<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Overcrowding and Infrastructure<\/b>\n
      \n
    • Occupancy Rate (2022):<\/b> 131% (up from 112% in 2012).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Prison population (2012\u201322):<\/b> Increased from <\/span>3.8 lakh to 5.7 lakh<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Undertrial Population<\/b>\n
        \n
      • 76% of total prisoners<\/b> are undertrials (up from <\/span>66% in 2012).<\/b><\/li>\n
      • Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra<\/b> account for <\/span>42% of all undertrials<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Staff Shortages & Medical Crisis<\/b>\n
          \n
        • 30% overall staff vacancies<\/b>; <\/span>43% medical officer posts vacant<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Medical officer ratio:<\/b> 1 doctor per <\/span>775 prisoners<\/b> (vs benchmark of 1:300).<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Psychologists\/Psychiatrists:<\/b> Only <\/span>25 for the entire nation<\/b> (1 per 22,929 prisoners); sanctioned strength is<\/span> 69.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Mental Health<\/b>\n
            \n
          • Recorded Mental illness Cases:<\/b> 9,084 (2022), up from 4,470 (2012).<\/span><\/li>\n
          • 25 States\/UTs<\/b> have no psychologists or psychiatrists in prisons.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Gender & Diversity<\/b>\n
              \n
            • Women prisoners:<\/b> Increased by 40% over the decade.<\/span><\/li>\n
            • Women prison staff:<\/b> Only 13% (up from 8% in 2012).<\/span><\/li>\n
            • Only <\/span>Mizoram<\/b> met the 33% benchmark for women staff.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Budget & Spending<\/b>\n
                \n
              • Prison budget increased:<\/b> \u20b93,275 crore (2012) \u2192 \u20b98,725 crore (2022) (+166%).<\/span><\/li>\n
              • Per inmate spend:<\/b> \u20b944,109\/year (\u20b9121\/day); lowest: Mizoram \u20b95\/day, Maharashtra \u20b947\/day. <\/span>Andhra Pradesh<\/b> has the highest spend: \u20b9733 per inmate\/day.<\/span><\/li>\n
              • Only 6 States\/UTs<\/b> fully utilized the allocated budget.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
              • Education & Skill Training<\/b>\n
                  \n
                • Literacy:<\/b> 1 in 4 prisoners is illiterate.<\/span><\/li>\n
                • Vocational Training:<\/b> Only <\/span>2%<\/b> of the total prison population received it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Regulations for Prison in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

                  Constitutional Framework<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
                    \n
                  • Article 14: <\/b>All prisoners, including undertrials and convicts, are <\/span>equal before the law<\/b> and entitled to equal protection.<\/span><\/li>\n
                  • Article 21: <\/b>Guarantees that <\/span>no person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                      \n
                    • Forms the foundation for <\/span>prisoners\u2019 rights to dignity, health, food, legal aid<\/b>, and protection from torture.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                    • Article 22: <\/b>Ensure <\/span>rights to consult legal counsel<\/b>, protection against arbitrary arrest, and preventive detention.<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • Article 23: <\/b>Prison labour is legal under regulated conditions, but <\/span>forced or exploitative labour is banned<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • Article 39A: <\/b>Directs the State to provide <\/span>free legal aid<\/b> to ensure access to justice for all, including undertrial prisoners.<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • State Subject under 7th Schedule (List II): Prisons are a State subject<\/b>, giving state governments primary responsibility for prison administration, budgeting, and reforms.<\/span>
                      \n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Legal Framework<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

                      Colonial-Era Laws<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
                        \n
                      • Prisons Act, 1894: <\/b>Still governs many aspects of prison management in India.<\/span>\n
                          \n
                        • Focused on <\/span>discipline, security, and punishment<\/b>, not rehabilitation.<\/span><\/li>\n
                        • Outdated<\/b> \u2013 criticized for being <\/span>custodial rather than reformative<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                        • Prisoners Act, 1900: <\/b>Deals with <\/span>transfer and removal of prisoners<\/b> across states.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Post-Independence Reforms & Legislations<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
                            \n
                          • Probation of Offenders Act, 1958: <\/b>Allows release of first-time or minor offenders on <\/span>probation with or without supervision<\/b>, instead of imprisonment.<\/span><\/li>\n
                          • Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: <\/b>Separates <\/span>juvenile offenders<\/b> from adult prisoners.<\/span>\n
                              \n
                            • Juveniles cannot be kept in regular jails.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                            • Mental Healthcare Act, 2017: <\/b>Mandates <\/span>mental health facilities in prisons<\/b> and training of prison staff.<\/span>\n
                                \n
                              • Each state must have <\/span>at least one mental health unit in its prisons<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                              • Model Prison Manual, 2016: <\/b>Inspired by <\/span>UN Mandela Rules<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                                  \n
                                • Emphasizes <\/span>reformative justice<\/b>, rights-based prison management.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                • Covers:<\/b>\n
                                    \n
                                  • Legal aid, education, vocational training<\/span><\/li>\n
                                  • Special provisions for <\/span>women, transgenders, and children in prison<\/b><\/li>\n
                                  • Parole, furlough, and open prisons<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                  • Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023: <\/b>Seeks to <\/span>replace the Prisons Act, 1894<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                                      \n
                                    • Aims to modernize prison laws and focus on <\/span>reformation, rehabilitation<\/b>, use of <\/span>technology<\/b>, and protection of vulnerable groups.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                    • Adoption is optional<\/b> for states (as prisons are a State Subject).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                    • Model Prison Manual (2003 & 2016): <\/b>2016 version aligns with <\/span>UN\u2019s Nelson Mandela Rules<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                                        \n
                                      • Provisions include:<\/b>\n
                                          \n
                                        • Correctional services<\/span><\/li>\n
                                        • Parole, furlough, open prisons<\/span><\/li>\n
                                        • Special safeguards for women, children, transgenders<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                        • Adopted by <\/span>19 states and all UTs<\/b> by July 2024\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                          International Frameworks Influencing Indian Prison Reforms<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
                                            \n
                                          • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), 1948<\/b>\n
                                              \n
                                            • Article 5:<\/b> \u201cNo one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n
                                            • Article 10:<\/b> Right to <\/span>fair and public hearing<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                            • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966<\/b>\n
                                                \n
                                              • Article 10:<\/b> Persons deprived of liberty must be <\/span>treated with humanity and dignity<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                              • United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), 2015<\/b>\n
                                                  \n
                                                • India is a signatory<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                • Key Principles:<\/b>\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • Prohibition of <\/span>torture and degrading treatment<\/b><\/li>\n
                                                  • Separation of undertrials and convicts<\/b><\/li>\n
                                                  • Access to <\/span>legal counsel<\/b>, <\/span>family visits<\/b>, <\/span>healthcare<\/b><\/li>\n
                                                  • Rehabilitation, education, and vocational training<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                  • United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-Custodial Measures (Tokyo Rules), 1990<\/b>\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • Promote use of <\/span>alternatives to imprisonment<\/b> like probation, community service, and parole.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                    • Bangkok Rules (2010) \u2013 for Treatment of Women Prisoners<\/b>\n
                                                        \n
                                                      • Emphasize gender-sensitive prison management.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                      • Call for <\/span>non-custodial alternatives<\/b> for women offenders.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                        Issues Related to Prisons in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
                                                          \n
                                                        • Overcrowding and Excessive Undertrial Detention:<\/b> As per <\/span>India Justice Report 2025<\/span><\/i>, the national occupancy rate was <\/span>131% as of December 2022.<\/b>\n
                                                            \n
                                                          • 76%<\/b> of all prisoners are undertrials\u2014most await justice for <\/span>1\u20133 years<\/b>, some even <\/span>5+ years<\/b>\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                          • 90 per cent of the prisoners in Delhi\u2019s prisons are undertrials.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                          • Poor Living Conditions and Health Facilities: <\/b>Overcrowding leads to appalling hygiene, poor ventilation, substandard diet, and lack of clean water.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                          • Staff Shortages and Lack of Training:<\/b> Over 30% staff shortage, severely affects daily monitoring and rehabilitation work\u200b.<\/span>\n
                                                              \n
                                                            • India\u2019s prison staff\u2013inmate ratio is <\/span>1:7<\/b>, while in the UK it’s <\/span>2:3<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                            • Medical Staff Shortage<\/b>: Ratio is <\/span>775 prisoners per doctor<\/b>, far below the recommended <\/span>1:300<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                            • Inequality and Discrimination in Prisons:<\/b> Affluent and upper-caste prisoners often receive preferential treatment, such as access to private cells, better food, and reduced labor.<\/span>\n
                                                                \n
                                                              • The Supreme Court (2024)<\/b> struck down <\/span>caste-based work allocation<\/b> (e.g., Dalits cleaning toilets) as <\/span>violative of Articles 14, 17, 21 & 23<\/b>\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                              • Weak or Inadequate Prison Reform Programs:<\/b> Despite isolated efforts (e.g., Art of Living SMART Program in Tihar, Srijan), most prisons lack:<\/span>\n
                                                                  \n
                                                                • \n
                                                                    \n
                                                                  • Daily structured activities<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                  • Vocational training<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                  • Post-release monitoring<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                                  • Only <\/span>3% of convicts<\/b> are housed in <\/span>open prisons<\/b>, which are reformative and cost-effective\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                                  • Insufficient Legal Aid and Delayed Access:<\/b> Legal aid is often only accessible after trial begins, leaving undertrials unassisted at remand stage.<\/span>\n
                                                                      \n
                                                                    • Many are <\/span>illiterate<\/b>, unaware of their legal rights, and lack financial means to hire lawyers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                                    • Custodial Abuse, Torture, and Deaths:<\/b> Physical abuse, beatings, forced labor, and rape are common\u2014especially for new inmates.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                    • Low Budget Allocation for Prison Welfare:<\/b> As per IJR 2025,<\/b> 18 states<\/b> spent less than \u20b9100 per day per inmate.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                    • Challenges of Uniform Prison Management: Prisons are a state subject <\/b>and therefore, having uniform prison management is a difficult issue.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                      Important Committees on Prison Reform & Recommendation\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n