The Union government has expressed deep concern about certain states engaging in the discriminatory treatment of prisoners based on their caste and religion, assigning work accordingly. Labeling such practices as unconstitutional, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent letters to the Chief Secretaries of all States/Union Territories, urging them to ensure that their Jail Manuals are devoid of any discriminatory provisions.
In a recent communication issued, the Ministry highlighted that it had observed certain states’ Jail Manuals facilitating the segregation of prisoners based on their caste and religion, leading to the assignment of specific work within the prisons.
