The Supreme Court has taken a significant step toward prison reform, emphasizing the need for prisoner rehabilitation and legal assistance. A bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice K.V. Vishwanathan, and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra has issued new guidelines focused on both prisoners and victims. The court expressed concerns about the conditions of undertrial prisoners held in correctional facilities and prisons.
Guidelines for Prison Reforms and Legal Aid
The court instructed that information on legal aid, including helpline numbers, be prominently displayed at bus stations, police stations, railway stations, and on legal documents. The guidelines also call for regular inspections of prisons to improve inmate conditions and ensure they reintegrate into society. The reforms aim to put prisoners on a path to rehabilitation. The Supreme Court commended the reform efforts of the Rajasthan government, highlighting the need for similar actions nationwide.
Application of Section 479 for Undertrial Prisoners
This decision follows a petition by human rights activist Suhas Chakma. In an earlier ruling, the Supreme Court mandated the enforcement of Section 479 of the Indian Civil Security Code. The court ruled that first-time offenders who have served one-third of their sentence should be released on bond. This provision aims to address overcrowding in jails by freeing eligible undertrial prisoners. Jail superintendents were directed to act on this law and report to the state or central government.
The new laws took effect on July 1, 2024. However, the court clarified that the provisions of Section 479 apply even to those arrested before this date.
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