SC sets aside jail manual for promoting caste-based discrimination

The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside discriminatory provisions of prison manuals of some states while deprecating the practice of caste-based discrimination, distribution of work and segregation of prisoners in separate wards as per their castes. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud also issued a slew of directions to stop caste-based discrimination in jails. Caste cannot be a ground to discriminate against prisoners of marginalised classes in jails as per the state manuals, the bench said, adding such practices cannot be allowed. The prisoners shall not be permitted to undertake cleaning of sewers tanks in hazardous conditions, it said while ordering that the police will have to work in right earnest to deal with the cases of caste-based discriminations. The bench said prisoners of certain classes will have the right to get fair distribution of work in jails. Setting aside the objectionable rules, the top court ordered states to amend them within a period of three .