Discrimination based on caste hierarchy in prisons violates constitution: SC

The SC declared that discrimination of prisoners based on caste and their division of work according to caste hierarchy violates their fundamental human dignity. The court directed the revision of prison manuals within three months and ordered the deletion of “caste column” from registers maintained by prison officials to keep the details of the prisoners. The CJI held that the discrimination based on caste not only violates human dignity but also infringes Article 17 of the constitution which forbids untouchability in all forms.