The Indian government has changed the rules for prisons to stop discrimination based on caste. This was done after the Supreme Court ordered it.
Here's a simple explanation:
Why the changes? The Supreme Court found that there was caste-based discrimination happening in prisons. This means that people from lower castes were being treated unfairly. The government is now taking steps to stop this.
What are the changes?
No more caste-based separation: Prisons are no longer allowed to separate prisoners based on their caste.
Equal treatment for work: All prisoners must be given equal opportunities for jobs and duties within the prison, regardless of their caste.
No manual scavenging: Prisons are not allowed to make anyone do manual scavenging (cleaning toilets by hand) or other dangerous cleaning jobs like cleaning sewers or septic tanks. This is already illegal under a separate law, but the government is reminding prisons of this.
New definition of "Habitual Offender": A "habitual offender" is now defined as someone who has been sent to prison more than twice in a five-year period. Time spent in prison doesn't count towards that five-year period.
What laws are being changed?
The "Model Prison Manual, 2016" has been updated.
The "Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023" has a new section added to it specifically banning caste discrimination in prisons.
What about states? States that have their own laws about habitual offenders need to make sure those laws match the new definition. All states need to update their prison rules within three months to follow the Supreme Court's order.
In simple terms: The government is making sure that all prisoners are treated equally, no matter what their caste is. They're doing this by changing the rules for prisons and making sure that states follow these new rules. This is to stop discrimination and ensure fairness for everyone in prison.