Latest news with #ModelPrisonManual
Scroll.in
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
No state has confirmed adoption of 2023 Model Prisons Act: Centre tells Rajya Sabha
The Union Home Ministry told Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that no state has confirmed the adoption of the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 in their jurisdictions. However, Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that 21 states and all union territories have adopted the Model Prison Manual, 2016. The manual seeks to bring in uniformity in the basic principles governing prisons and correctional institutions in the country. The Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, meant to be a guiding document for states, addresses the gaps in the Prisons Act, 1894. Currently, the 1894 law, along with state manuals, defines the framework for jail administrations in the country. The 2023 Act contains provisions for security assessment, individual sentence planning, grievance redressal mechanisms and the use of technology, among others. In May 2023, the Centre said that states and union territories can adopt the Model Prisons Act with any necessary modifications, and then repeal the Prisons Act (1894), the Prisoners Act (1900) and the Transfer of Prisoners Act (1950). As per the Constitution, state governments are entrusted with prison administration. Kumar on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that states must allocate budgets for infrastructure like building prison libraries. In December, the ministry amended the prison manual rules to prohibit discrimination and the segregation of prisoners on the basis of caste. The changes came more than two months after the Supreme Court on October 3 struck down the prison manual rules, saying that they promoted caste discrimination in jails by allocating prisoners from oppressed communities to carry out menial jobs in jails. The October 3 order came on a petition filed by journalist Sukanya Shantha, following her investigative reporting series in The Wire on caste-based discrimination and segregation in jails. The petition highlighted that prison manuals in several states promote such discrimination. The reporting found that the division of labour was being determined on the ''purity-impurity' scale, with the higher castes handling only work that is considered 'pure' and those lower in the caste grid being left to carry out the 'impure' jobs'.
Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz: Polity and Governance MCQs on Census 2027, Model Prison Manual and more (Week 118)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Polity and Governance to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Census 2027, consider the following statements: 1. Data will be collected using mobile apps available only in Hindi and is not available in English and regional languages. 2. It will be the first digital census in the country. 3. This census will also include the first nationwide caste enumeration since 1931. 4. The 16th Census of India will take place in a single phase. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Explanation — During Census 2027, data would be collected using mobile apps available in English, Hindi, and different regional languages, with residents having the option of 'self-enumeration' via a dedicated web page, according to the Centre. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. — 'Census 2027 will be the country's first digital census, with data collected via Android and iOS mobile apps in English, Hindi, and regional languages. Enumerators/Supervisors will collect data on their own mobile devices,' the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on X. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — The government announced last month that the 16th Census of India will take place in two phases, with reference dates set for March 1, 2027 for most of the country and October 1, 2026 for snow-bound and remote regions such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. This census will also feature the first nationwide caste enumeration since 1931. Hence, statement 3 is correct and statement 4 is not correct. — 'The census will be undertaken in two phases: phase one, Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO), will begin in April 2026, and phase two, Population Enumeration (PE), will be conducted. Enumeration of Caste: 'The caste of household members will be enumerated in the upcoming census,' the post stated. Both phases, HLO and PE, will allow for self-enumeration via a web interface. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the Model Prison Manual, consider the following statements: 1. It is issued by the various state governments. 2. According to the manual, an average man requires 2,000 to 2,400 calories a day, while a person engaged in heavy labour requires a minimum of 2,800 calories. 3. The manual prohibits the management of the kitchen and the cooking of food based on caste or religion in prisons. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — The Model Prison Manual issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs states that an average man requires 2,000 to 2,400 calories a day, while a person engaged in heavy labour requires a minimum of 2,800 calories. A woman, on the other hand, requires around 2,400 calories per day. The manual further specifies the nutrients required, including protein and vitamins. Since prisons are a state subject, the model manual states that the scale of the diet may be drawn based on the climatic conditions, as well as the needs and habits of prisoners in each state. Hence, statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is correct. — 'Prisoners who observe religious fasts may receive extra articles of food, or may have the whole or a part of their meal at a place and time of the day, as may be allowed by orders of the government for proper observance of fasts from them,' the model manual says. The manual also prohibits the management of the kitchen and the cooking of food based on caste or religion in prisons. Hence, statement 3 is correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. The government's powers to intercept communication are laid down in — and circumscribed by — 1. The Indian Post Office Act, 1898 2. The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 3. The Information Technology Act, 2000 Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — The government's powers to intercept communication is laid down in — and circumscribed by — three pieces of legislation. — The Indian Post Office Act, 1898 allows for the interception of communication through post; — The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 is used for tapping voice calls; and — The Information Technology Act, 2000 governs the interception of WhatsApp messages, emails, etc. — The right to free expression and the right to privacy are fundamental rights, and any infringement on these rights by surveillance is only authorised under strict constitutional conditions. — These grounds—the interest of India's sovereignty and integrity; the security of the state; cordial relations with foreign governments; public order; or preventing inducement to commit an offence—are specified as 'reasonable restrictions' under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. With reference to the term of office of Governor, consider the following statements: 1. The Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. 2. A Governor shall hold office for a term of six years from the date on which he enters upon his office. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The Governor holds office at the pleasure of the President. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — The Governor may resign his post in writing, sent to the President. — Subject to the above provisions of this article, a Governor shall serve for a period of five years beginning on the date he takes office. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — Provided that, despite the expiration of his term, a Governor shall continue to maintain office until his successor takes office. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Source: Constitution of India) Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides for the separation of judiciary from executive? (a) Article 48 (b) Article 49 (c) Article 50 (d) Article 51 Explanation — Article 50 of the Constitution of India provides for the separation of judiciary from executive. — The State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. (Source: Constitution of India) Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 117) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 117) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 117) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 117) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 117) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. 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Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Indian Express
What courts have held on religious preferences in the food served in prisons
A Mumbai special court last month issued a show-cause notice to the superintendent of the Mumbai Central Prison following a complaint by an undertrial prisoner about the food served. The prisoner alleged that the prison had failed to serve him Jain food despite a court directive and that he had subsisted on chappatis since May. Jail manuals typically specify the type of food to be served in prison, down to the milligram. Here is what to know. In March 2025, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Mumbai resident Riteshkumar S Shah in connection with its investigation into the misuse of bank accounts of Malegaon residents for money laundering. He first approached the special court designated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in May, stating that he is a follower of Jainism. Shah pleaded that as a lifelong follower of Jainism, he had followed a strict diet based on the religious requirements, and that the food served in jail did not meet his dietary preferences. The plea said that this was affecting his health and that he had lost substantial weight. The court allowed his plea on May 14, noting that as the 'accused is a follower of Jainism', he is 'entitled to get diet accepted by Jain religion'. The court directed the superintendent to provide him with Jain food. In June, the court issued a show cause notice to the prison after Shah approached the court a second time, claiming that the jail had not complied with this order and that he was only surviving on chapatis. The superintendent told the court that Shah was being provided dal and sabzi (vegetable gravy) without onion, garlic and potatoes, as is his religious requirement. This week, Shah told the court that the jail had complied with the order for a few days, but had since stopped providing him with the requisite meals, following which the court again issued directions to the jail. What are the rules about food for undertrials and convicts as per prison rules? The Model Prison Manual issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs states that an average man requires 2,000 to 2,400 calories a day, while a person engaged in heavy labour requires a minimum of 2,800 calories. A woman, on the other hand, requires around 2,400 calories per day. The manual further specifies the nutrients required, including protein and vitamins. Since prisons are a state subject, the model manual states that the scale of the diet may be drawn based on the climatic conditions, as well as the needs and habits of prisoners in each state. 'Prisoners who observe religious fasts may receive extra articles of food, or may have the whole or a part of their meal at a place and time of the day, as may be allowed by orders of the government for proper observance of fasts from them,' the model manual says. The manual also prohibits the management of the kitchen and the cooking of food based on caste or religion in prisons. Prison officials in Maharashtra said that if a prisoner informs them about a particular religious requirement food-wise, they will make arrangements wherever possible. For instance, during the month of Shravan, when many Hindus fast, fruits and sabudana-based food items are made available in the canteen. During the month of Ramzan, prison officials make arrangements for food to be served before sunrise to those fasting. There have been instances, however, when prisoners have approached courts seeking permission for home-cooked food, citing religious requirements. How have courts ruled on providing prisoners with food according to their dietary choices? There have been multiple judgments on the rights and constitutional safeguards available to prisoners who have their liberty curtailed, either as an undertrial facing charges or a convict, found guilty of having committed an offence. But prisoners are bound by strict rules part of the jail manuals, including when they wake up, mealtimes, when they can venture out of their barracks and when they must return to them. Choice in food is also therefore limited. Apart from the meals served to them by the jail officials, either by prisoners themselves in some jail from a pre-decided menu, or by staffers, they are only free to buy what is available in the jail canteen. In 1958, the Allahabad High Court in Lakshmi Narain vs The State observed that 'jails are not places where people can have their own choice of food or their own choice in other matters'. While some safeguards have been instituted since, such as regular checks on the quality of the food following frequent prisoner complaints of substandard quality, there is no uniform policy on serving food according to one's religious practice. The prison administration decides the food served unless specific directions are given by the courts. In 2017, the Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that there should be a uniform policy on the two meals to be provided for prisoners fasting during Ramzan, following a petition on the subject. In 2022, then Aam Aadmi Party minister Satyendra Jain, arrested on charges of money laundering, claimed that he was not being given food according to his religious belief as a follower of Jainism. The special court had rejected his plea stating that 'special treatment' cannot be given to any person.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre calls for curbing radicalisation in prisons to ensure internal security
With radicalisation in prisons becoming an increasingly critical challenge in the global context and often found to be a precursor to several criminal activities, the Union Government has called for urgent steps to counter the menace. The Ministry of Home Affairs in an advisory to Home Secretaries of all States/Union Territories, said there was a need to check and counter radicalisation of vulnerable individuals in prison settings and to undertake an exercise for de-radicalisation of such individuals as the same was considered crucial for preserving public order and ensuring internal security. In prison environment, radicalisation could be typically dangerous, as the campuses were closed spaces where social isolation, group dynamics and lack of oversight could foster extreme points of view. Prisoners could often become vulnerable to radical narratives owing to feelings of alienation, tendency towards violent behaviour and anti-social attitudes. 'In some cases, radicalised inmates may engage in acts of violence or orchestrate attacks against prison staff, fellow inmates, or even external targets. It is therefore important to address the issue of radicalisation in prisons for reducing the risks of violent extremism, fostering rehabilitation, ensuring national security, and supporting successful reintegration of prisoners into society,' the MHA said. Referring to the 'Model Prison Manual, 2016' and the 'Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023', the MHA said the model frameworks rolled out by the Government of India had guidance on classification and separation of high-risk prisoners, extremists etc. and setting up of special enclosures, including High Security Prisons, to house such prisoners separately. Reiterating its earlier advisories on ensuring segregation, surveillance and counselling of hardcore prisoners and to take suitable reformative steps to counter the threat of radicalisation, the Home Ministry said that in light of the growing concerns about the malady of radicalisation in prisons, the States were expected to follow the guidelines. Individual risk assessments should be periodically conducted both at the time of entry of the prisoner and during his/her period of incarceration at periodic intervals. Prison authorities could coordinate with the law-enforcement and intelligence agencies to identify inmates who could pose a risk of radical influence to other inmates. Establish separate prisons High-risk inmates who were inclined towards propagating the ideology of radicalisation should be segregated from the general prison population to minimise the risk of indoctrination. 'States/UTs may consider establishing an independent High Security Prison Complex in their jurisdiction for housing hardened/radicalised prisoners, terrorists etc. separately with a view to prevent them from influencing other inmates. These inmates should be kept under enhanced surveillance using monitoring tools and intelligence mechanisms to detect and address potential threats and radical networks within the prison.' Besides rehabilitation programmes and other training modules to engage prisoners in a productive manner, the authorities could promote continued contact between inmates and their family members to strengthen their emotional stability
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Time of India
One per 699: Probation-officer crunch leaves kids in conflict with law in the lurch
Rohit, a boy in conflict with the law, entered the observation home late one night. He remembers being left alone afterwards for over a month. "I didn't even know if my parents knew I was here," he said. No one explained anything. With no family visits or emotional support, Rohit's frustration built up. "The lawyer was driving me crazy. I hadn't seen the sun in days." Relief came only when hisprobation officer (PO) finally visited. "They comforted me and told me to spend two hours a day gardening. It helped me calm down." With their support and a positive report, Rohit moved to an aftercare hostel at 18. His parents never came, fearing arrest, but he stayed in touch with his officer online. "They motivated me," said Rohit, now planning to become a teacher. Suresh had a similar start. "That night I cried," he recalled of his arrival at Dongri observation home. "I didn't know where I was or what would happen. I wasn't sure whether to tell the truth or lie." But the probation officer gradually gained his confidence and helped him sit for his exams. Both boys were lucky but their stories are rare. "These moments of care happen despite the system, not because of it," says Sachi Maniar, director of Ashiyana Foundation at Umerkhadi Observation and Children's Home in Dongri. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Sometimes, there's no PO at all, and a superintendent steps in. The child meets caretakers, guards, house masters... everyone but the PO." Earlier this month, a first-of-its-kind national consultation in Delhi - organised by the resource cell for juvenile justice (RCJJ) at TISS and department of social work, University of Delhi - put this overlooked link under the spotlight. Over two days, Juvenile Justice Board magistrates, POs, NGO workers, and social work faculty from 20 states gathered to discuss how to fix it. "This was the first time voices from across India came together to share what's really happening on the ground," said Asha Mukundan, who leads the RCJJ at TISS. What's happening, it turns out, is "POs are working as social workers, counsellors, escorts, data managers all rolled into one," said Mukundan. "And the case-to-officer ratio is outrageous. In some states, one officer is responsible for hundreds of children." Most of them are expected to prepare reports, conduct home visits, maintain records, liaise with families, and coordinate rehabilitation, often with little or no support. Bharat Parashar, member secretary of the National Legal Services Authority (Nalsa), shared that the vacancy rate among correctional staff hovers around 45%. The Model Prison Manual recommends one correctional staff per 200 inmates. India currently operates at one per 699. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The problem goes beyond numbers. In 2021, the govt introduced the legal-cum-probation officer (LCPO), a hybrid role under Mission Vatsalya, where one person is expected to serve as both legal aid provider and rehabilitation facilitator. In reality, it blurred lines and weakened impact. "The role of a lawyer is to defend a client, no matter what," said Mukundan. "A PO's job is to help the child understand what went wrong and work on it. If you try to be both, you risk doing justice to neither." The overlap has also raised doubts about how much weight LCPOs carry in JJB decisions. Many admit they're barely trained to handle the job's social work demands, let alone trauma or aftercare. "Most get a three-day crash course," said Mukundan. "It can't be handed to someone with an administrative background." POs, she stressed, should hold a degree in social work. "It's sensitive, child-facing work that needs skill and empathy." Without trained POs, even basics like social investigation reports or care plans are skipped, forcing JJBs to issue generic orders or by default send children to custodial care. Since a bulk of children are out on bail, not in visible custody, the crisis is easy to miss. In many cases, probation orders aren't passed because there's no one to carry them out. Thus, unlike models abroad, children here are mostly left to fend for themselves. "At most, they're told to report to a police station," said Maniar. In cities like Mumbai or smaller towns like Bilaspur, she's seen children cycle in and out of the system for petty offences up to ten times simply because too often, the PO's role is reduced to just securing bail. "But rehabilitation isn't bail," she stresses. "And reintegration isn't just about release but whether the child can actually survive outside. " "Without a PO checking in or a plan tailored to their situation, they reoffend or give up," said Mukundan. Over two days of the consultations in Delhi, the working groups have now offered practical calls to separate legal and social roles, hire more trained probation professionals, strengthen inter-state networks, and invest in follow-up beyond bail. The two schools leading the effort will send the report to the ministries of women and child development and home affairs. As Mukundan reminded the room, "If we're serious about giving children a second chance, 'probation' has to be one of the first things we strengthen."
