Joginder Singh v. State of Punjab and Others

CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-1-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABo&oHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o 227o o o o o o CWP-3474-2021o(O&M).o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o02.11.2023.o o JOGINDERoSINGHoo o o o o o...Petitionero o o o o o Versuso o STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo o o ,Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o *****o Present:ooo Ms.oKomaloPreetoKaur,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitioner.o o Ms.oNiharikaoSharma,oAAG,oPunjab.o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ.ooJo(ORAL)oo o "Itoisosaidothatonoooneotrulyoknowsoaonationountilooneohaso beenoinsideoitsojails.oAonationoshouldonotobeojudgedobyohowoito treatsoitsohighestocitizens,obutoitsolowestoones."o ―oNelsonoRolihlahlaoMandelao o oo TheoConstitutionoofoIndiaomandatesoequalityobeforeotheolawo andoequaloprotectionoofolawsoforoeveryoindividualowithinotheonation,oao principleo thato extendso too prisonerso aso well,o whoo possesseso certaino guaranteedo rightso ando musto beo treatedo witho respect.o Theo judiciaryo ino India,o includingo theo esteemedo Supremeo Court,o haso timeo ando againo acknowledgedo ando underscoredo theo essentialo rightso ofo prisoners.o Theo Apexo Courtoino Re-o Inhumaneo Conditionso ino 1382o Prisonerso datedo

05.02.2016,oW.P.o(C)oNo.o406oofo2013ohasoexplicitlyostatedothat,o"thereo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-2-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

couldo beo severalo factorso thato leado ao prisonero too commito ao crimeo buto neverthelesso ao prisonero iso requiredo too beo treatedo aso ao humano beingo entitledo too allo theo basico humano rights,o humano dignityo ando humano sympathy."o oo Justiceo Krishnao Iyero ino theo caseo ofo Sunilo Batrao (II)o vs.o Delhio Administration,o 1980o (3)o SCCo 488,ohereinaftero referredotooaso "Sunilo Batrao (II)"o haso eloquentlyo expressedo theo similaro viewo byoo followingo theo excerpto fromo Siro Winstono Churchill'so speech,o ito waso astutelyoobserved:o "Truly,o thiso iso ao perspective-settero ando thiso iso alsoo theo importoofotheoPreambleoandoArticleo21oasoweowillopresentlyo see.oWeoareosatisfiedothatoprotectionoofotheoprisonerowithino hisorightsoisopartoofotheoofficeoofoArticleo32."o o oo Undero comparableo ando regrettableo circumstances,o theo presentocaseohasobeenobroughtobeforeothisoCourtochallengingotheoordero datedo23.12.2020opassedobyotheoofficeoofoAdditionaloDirectoroGeneraloofo Policeo(Jails),oPunjab,oChandigarh,otootheoextentothatotheoprisonersolodgedo ino higho securityo zoneo haso beeno orderedo too beo releasedo ino theo openo atmosphereoonlyoforotwoohoursoi.e.oforooneohouroinotheomorningoandoforo oneohouroinotheoevening.oo oo Inotheoreplyofiledobyotheorespondents,oaoreferenceohasobeeno madeotootheoantecedentsoofotheopetitionerostatingothatotheopetitioneroiso categorizedoasoaonotorious/dangerousoprisoneroandothatoafterotheoescapeo ofohighoriskoprisonersofromoHighoSecurityoJail,oNabhaoino2016,ospecifico CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-3-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

ordersohaveobeenomadeoforotheosafetyoandosecurityoofosaidoprisonersoasopero Sectiono329o(1)oofotheoPunjaboJailoManual,o1996.oo oo Learnedocounselofororespondent-Stateohasobeenoconfrontedo withotheofactothatotheoorderoinoquestionohasonotobeenopassedoagainstoao specificoprisoneroandoinorelationotootheothreatoextendedotoosuchoprisoner,o rather,o theo sameo haso beeno passedo foro generalo applicationo againsto allo inmatesolodgedoinoHighoSecurityoZone.oo oo Stateo counselo alsoo couldo noto respondo aso too undero whato circumstancesotheoAdditionaloDirectoroGeneraloofoPoliceo(Jails),oPunjab,o Chandigarh,ocouldoconfineotheoinmatesoandotooallowothemoexcessotooopeno skyoonlyoforotwoohoursoinoaodayobyopassingosuchoanoorder.oTheomereo apprehensionsocannotobeoconstruedoasolayingodownofoundationoforodenialo ofotheobasicorightoandoamenitiesoincludedotheolightoandoair.oo o o Iohaveoheardotheorespectiveopartiesoandohaveogoneothrougho theodocumentsoappendedoalongowithotheopresentopetitionowithotheohelpoofo theiroableoassistance.oo oo Beforeo proceedingo further,o ito iso imperativeo too extracto theo pertinentolegislativeoprovisionsothatorelatesotootheomatteroinohand.o o TheoPrisonsoAct,o1894o "TheoPrisonsoAct,oofo1894oisotheofirstolegislationoregardingo prisonoregulationoinoIndia.oTheoprovisionsoofotheoPrisonso Act,o 1894o containo theo provisionso foro theo welfareo ando protectionoofoprisoners.o Undero thiso Act,o theo prisonerso (botho convictso ando undero trials)ohaveovariousorights.o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-4-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

oooChapteroVoo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooDisciplineoofoPrisonersoo Sectiono27.oSeparationoofoprisonerso-oo TheorequisitionsoofothisoActowithorespectotootheoseparationoofo prisonersoareoasofollows:-o

(1)oinoaoprisonocontainingofemaleoasowelloasomaleoprisoners,o theofemalesoshallobeoimprisonedoinoseparateobuildings,ooro separateopartsoofotheosameobuilding,oinosuchomanneroasotoo prevento theiro seeing,o oro conversingo oro holdingo anyo intercourseowith,otheomaleoprisoners;o

(2)o ino ao prisono whereo maleo prisonerso undero theo ageo ofo [twenty-one]o areo confined,o meanso shallo beo providedo foro separatingothemoaltogetherofromotheootheroprisonersoandoforo separatingothoseoofothemowhoohaveoarrivedoatotheoageoofo pubertyofromothoseowhoohaveonot;o

(3)ounconvictedocriminaloprisonersoshallobeokeptoapartofromo convictedocriminaloprisoners;oando

(4)o civilo prisonerso shallo beo kepto aparto fromo criminalo prisoners.o Sectiono28.oAssociationoandosegregationoofoprisonerso-oo Subjectotootheorequirementsoofotheolastoforegoingosection,o convictedo criminalo prisonerso mayo beo confinedo eithero ino associationooroindividuallyoinocellsooropartlyoinooneowayoando partlyoinotheoother.o Sectiono29.oSolitaryoconfinemento-oo oNoocelloshallobeousedoforosolitaryoconfinementounlessoitoiso furnishedo witho theo meanso ofo enablingo theo prisonero too communicateoatoanyotimeowithoanoofficeroofotheoprison,oando everyoprisonerosooconfinedoinoaocelloforomoreothanotwenty-fourohours,owhetheroasoaopunishmentoorootherwise,oshallobeo visitedo ato leasto onceo ao dayo byo theo Medicalo Officero oro MedicaloSubordinate.o CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-5-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

oooooChapteroIXo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooVisitsotooPrisonerso Sectiono 40.o Visitso too civilo ando unconvictedo criminalo prisoners.-oo Dueoprovisionoshallobeomadeoforotheoadmission,oatopropero timeso ando underoproperorestrictions,o intoo everyoprisono ofo personsowithowhomociviloorounconvictedocriminaloprisonerso mayodesireotoocommunicate,ocareobeingotakenothat,osoofaroaso mayo beo consistento witho theo interestso ofo justice,o prisonerso undero trialo mayo seeo theiro dulyo qualifiedo legalo adviserso withoutotheopresenceoofoanyootheroperson.o o ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooChapteroXIIoo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooMiscellaneouso Sectiono56.oConfinementoinoirons-oo WheneverotheoSuperintendentoconsidersoitonecessaryo(witho referenceoeitherotootheostateoofotheoprisonoorotheocharacteroofo theoprisoners)oforotheosafeocustodyoofoanyoprisonersothatotheyo shouldobeoconfinedoinoirons,oheomay,osubjectotoosuchoruleso ando instructionso aso mayo beo laido downo byo theo Inspectoro Generalo witho theo sanctiono ofo theo Stateo Government,o soo confineothem.o Sectiono 57.o Confinemento ofo prisonero undero sentenceo ofo transportationoinoirons.-oo

(1)oPrisonersounderosentenceoofotransportationomay,osubjecto tooanyorulesomadeounderosectiono[59].obeoconfinedoinofetterso forotheofirstothreeomonthsoafteroadmissionotooprison.o

(2)oShouldotheoSuperintendentoconsideroitonecessary,oeithero forotheosafeocustodyoofotheoprisonerohimselfooroforoanyoothero reason,othatofettersoshouldobeoretainedoonoanyosuchoprisonero foromoreothanothreeomonths,oheoshalloapplyotootheoInspectoro Generaloforosanctionotootheiroretentionoforotheoperiodoforo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-6-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

whicho heo considerso theiro retentiono necessary,o ando theo InspectoroGeneralomaysanctionosuchoretentionoaccordingly.oo Sectiono 58.o Prisonerso noto too beo ironedo byo Jailero excepto underonecessityo-oo oNoo prisonero shallo beo puto ino ironso oro undero mechanicalo restraintobyotheoJaileroofohisoownoauthority,oexceptoinocaseoofo urgento necessity,o ino whicho caseo noticeo thereofo shallo beo forthwithogivenotootheosuperintendent.o Sectiono59.oPowerotoomakeoruleso-oo [TheoStateoGovernmentomay]omakeorulesoconsistentowithothiso Act-o xxxoxxxoxxxo o(8)oforotheoclassificationoofoprisons,oandodescriptionoando constructionoofowards,ocellsoandootheroplacesoofodetention;o xxxoxxxoxxxo o(17)oforotheoclassificationoandotheoseparationoofoprisoners;o xxxoxxxoxxxo o(18)ofororegulatingotheoconfinementoofoconvictedocriminalo prisonersounderosectiono28;o o o o o ***o ***o ***o PUNJABoJAILoMANUAL,o1996o

329.o Specialo precautiono foro dangerouso prisoners.o –o (1)o Specialoprecautionsoshouldobeotakenoforotheosafeocustodyoofo dangerouso prisonerso whethero theyo areo awaitingo trialo oro haveobeenoconvicted.oo Onobeingoadmittedotoojailotheyoshouldobeoo

(a)oplacedoinochargeoofotrustworthyowarders,oo

(b)oconfinedoinotheomostosecureobuildingoavailable,oo

(c)oasofaroasopracticableoconfinedoinodifferentobarracksooro cellsoeachonight,oo

(d)o thoroughlyo searchedo ato leasto twiceo dailyo ando occasionallyoatouncertainohourso(theoDeputyoSuperintendento mustosearchothemoatoleastoonceodailyoandoheomustosatisfyo himselfothato theyo areo properlyo searchedo byoaotrustworthyo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-7-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

subordinateoatootherotimes).oTheyoshouldonotobeoemployedo onoanyoindustryoaffordingofacilitiesoforoescapeoandoshouldo noto beo entrustedo witho implementso thato cano beo usedo aso weapons.oWardersoonotakingooverochargeoofosuchoprisonerso mustosearchothemoandotheoironobarsoorotheogratingsoofotheo barracks/cellsoinowhichotheyoareoconfinedoareosecureoandoallo locks,oboltsoetc.oareoinoproperoorder.oTheyoshouldoduringo theiroturnsoofodutyofrequentlyosatisfyothemselvesothatoallosucho prisonerso areo ino theiro places,o ando shouldo acquainto themselvesowithotheiroappearances.o Lighto too beo kepto burningo ato night.o -o (2)o Fromo sunseto too sunriseo ao goodo lighto shallo ato theo discretiono ofo theo Superintendentobeokeptoburningoinofrontoofotheogratedodooro ofoeveryocelloinowhichoaodangerousoprisoneroisoconfined,osoo thatoheomayoatoallotimesoremainounderoobservation.o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

495.o Theo classificationo ofo prisonerso foro purposeso ofo separation.-o Theo differento categorieso ofo prisonerso foro theo timeobeingoconfinedoinoeveryojailoshouldobeokeptoinoseparateo institutions,opartoofoinstitutions;oannexes;ounitsotakingointoo accounto ofo theiro sex,o age,o conditiono ofo health,o criminalo record,otheolegaloreasonoforotheirodetentionoandonecessitieso ofotheirotreatment.o o

496.o Separationo ofo prisoners.-o Prisonerso foropurposeso ofo separation,oasofaroasopossibleomayobeoclassifiedoandokepto separateoasofollows:o

i)oMenoandowomenoshallobeokeptoinoseparateoinstitutionsooro separateopartoofoanoinstitution/oannexes.o

ii)o Bettero classo prisonerso shouldo beo kepto separateo fromo ordinaryoprisoners.oo

iii)oCondemnedoprisoners,oprisonersoconvictedotoorigorouso oro simpleo imprisonment,o civilo prisoners,o undertrialo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-8-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

prisoners.oCommittedotooSessions,oundertrialoprisonersonoto confinedotooSessionsomayobeokeptoseparateofromoeachoother.o

iv)oAdultoprisonersofromoadolescents.o

v)oHabitualoprisonersofromonon-habitualoprisoners.o

vi)o Prisonerso undero TADAo ando COFEPOSAo beo kepto separateofromootheroprisoners.o

vii)o Inmateso suspectedo too beo sufferingo fromo mentalo disorders.o

viii)oHomosexuals.o

ix)oSexoperverts.o

x)oDrugoaddictsoandotraffickersoinonarcotics.o

xi)oInmatesohavingosuicidalotendencies.o

xii)oInmatesoexhibitingoviolentoandoaggressiveotendencies.o

xiii)oInmatesohavingoescapeoorodisciplineorisks.o

xiv)oKnownobadocharacters.o o Noteo 1:o Femaleo prisonerso willo beo classifiedo too theo sameo manneroasoisoprovidedoinotheocaseoofomaleoprisoners.o o Noteo2:oUnconvictedocriminaloprisonersoandociviloprisonerso respectivelyowillobeosubodividedoaccordingotoosexoandoage.o o Noteo 3:o Ao Committeeo ofo Superintendento Deputy/o Superintendent,oMedicaloOfficeroandoWelfareoOfficeroofotheo jailowillodetermineoclassificationoofoeachoprisoner.o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo o

499.oSeparationorequiredobyoruleomadeounderoPrisonsoActo ofo1894.-oInoadditionotootheoprovisions,oasotootheoseparationo ofoprisoners,ounderoSectiono27oofotheoPrisonsoAct,o1894,oando subjecto too theo provisions,o ofo theo ruleo nexto following,o theo furthero provisions,o aso too theo separationo ofo prisoners,o hereinafterospecifiedoshall,otootheoextentotoowhichotheyocan,o inoeachojail,obeocarriedointooeffect,onamely-o CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-9-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

o

(a)o unconvictedo criminalo prisonerso whoo haveo beeno committedoforotrialobyotheoCourtoofoSessionsoshallobeokepto separateofromounconvictedocriminaloprisonersowhoohaveonoto beeno soo committedo ando thoseo whoo haveo beeno previouslyo convictedoshallobeokeptoseparateofromothoseowhoohaveonoto beenopreviouslyoconvicted,o o

(b)oconvictsoofotheocasualoclassoshallobeokeptoseparateofromo convictsoofotheohabitualoclass,o o

(c)o convictso whoo haveo beeno sentencedo too simpleo imprisonmentoonlyoshallobeokeptoseparateofromoconvictsowhoo haveobeenosentencedotoorigorousoimprisonment;o o

(d)oconvictsowhooareounderotwenty-oneoyearsoofoageoshallobeo keptoseparateofromoconvictsowhooareomoreothanotwenty-oneo yearsoofoage;o o

(e)ociviloprisonersowhooareoconfinedounderotheoordersoofoanyo authorityo othero thano ao judicialo tribunalo shallo beo kepto separateofromoprisonersowhooareoconfinedounderoprocessoofo aoCivilooroRevenueoCourtooroauthority.o o Note:oEveryohabitualocriminaloshalloasofaroasopossibleobeo confinedoinoaospecialojailoinowhichonooprisonerootherothano habitualocriminalsoshallobeokept.o o Providedo thato theo Inspector-Generalo ofo Prisonso mayo transfero too thiso specialo jailo anyo prisoner,o noto beingo ao habitualo criminal,o whomo foro reasonso too beo recordedo ino writing,o heo believeso too beo ofo soo viciouso oro depravedo ao characteroandotooexercise,oorolikelyotooexerciseosooeviloano influenceoonohisofellowoprisonersothatoheooughtonototoobeo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-10-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

confinedowithootheronon-habitualoprisoners,obutoaoprisonero sootransferredoshallonotootherwiseobeosubjectotootheospecialo rulesoaffectingohabitualocriminal.o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

510.oUnder-trialoprisonersowilloalsoobeoofotwooclassesoonly.o Oneo classo willo correspondo too 'Bettero Class'o ofo convictedo prisonersoandotheootherotoo'OrdinaryoClass'.oTilloanounder-trialoprisoneroisobroughtobeforeoaocompetentocourt,oitowillobeo withinotheodiscretionoofotheoofficeroinchargeoofotheoPoliceo StationotooplaceohimoinoBetteroClass'.oAfteroheoisobroughto beforeotheoCourt,oheowillobeoclassifiedobyotheocourt,osubjecto tootheorevisionaloordersoofotheoDistrictoMagistrateoorotheo SessionsoJudgeoasotheocaseomayobe.oWhileoclassifyingoano undertrialoprisoneroasobetteroclass,otheoofficeroinchargeoofo PoliceoStationoandoCourtsoconcernedowillobeoguidedobyotheo instructionso laido downo byo theo Stateo Governmento foro classificationoofoconvictedoprisonersofromotimeotootime.o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

513.o Removalo fromo wards,o lock-ups;o stricto disciplineo byo dayoandonight.o–o(1)oPrisoners,ootherothanothoseowhoomayo anyo timeo beo lawfullyo confinedo ino cellso byo dayo ando night,o shallobeoremovedofromotheirosleepingowards,ocellsoandoothero compartments,o aso soono aftero day-breako aso possible,o ando shallobeoplacedoinotheiroproperosleepingowardsoandolockedo upoforotheonightobeforeosunset.o

(2)oPrisonersoshallobeokeptoandoshalloremainounderostricto order,odisciplineoandocontrolobothobyodayoandonight.o o

514.oMovementohowotoobeoconducted.o–oAllomovementsoofo prisonerso shallo beo conductedo ino ano orderlyo ando regularo manner,ounderostrictocontrol."oo oooooooooooooooooooooooooo (EmphasisoSupplied)oo o o CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-11-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

oo Prisons/Correctionalo facilitieso beingo ao crucialo parto ofo theo CriminaloJusticeoSystem,oplaysoaosignificantorole.oItoisoparamountothatotheo rehabilitationo ando reformationo ofo offenderso represento theo ultimateo aspirationoofojailoadministration.oo oo o Theofundamentaloprincipleoofohumanityoisothatoeveryoperson,o regardlessoofotheirolegalostatus,odeservesotoobeotreatedowithorespectoando dignity.o Inmateso areo noto too beo unnecessarilyo subjectedo too cruelo oro degradingotreatment,othusoupholdingotheirobasicohumanorightsoprovidedo byoTheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoitselfounderoArticleo21.oItoisoimperativeothato theo rightso inherento too theiro humanityo beo upheld,o thuso precludingo inhumaneoorodegradingotreatment.oo oo Thiso mayo alsoo involveso offeringopsychologicalo supporto too helpoinmates.oNoteworthyoamongotheseoconsiderationsoisotheoimperativeo ofo allowingo inmate'so accesso too adequateo outdooro exposure,o aso theo absenceoofosuchoprovisionsomayoexacerbateotension,oprecipitateoincidentso ofoviolence,oandoposeorisksotootheoinmates'owell-being.o oo Earlieroalsoobunchoofopetitionsohaveobeenofiledobeforeothiso court,o maino caseobearingo CWPo No.o 7882o ofo 2021o tiltedo aso /o Rajiao versuso Stateo ofo Punjabo ando others/o decidedo ono 01.07.2021o challengingotheosimilaroorderoregardingocustodyoofodangerousoprisonerso inoseparateohighosecurityozonesoandoclassificationoofoprisonersoasosuchoiso providedo basedo upono theo offenceso ofo whicho theyo areo accused,o beingo securityo threats,o havingo historyo ofo escape,o recommendedo byo theo localo policeoforolodgingoinohighosecurityozone,ohabitualooffendersoandoothero CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-12-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

sufficientoreasonsofoundobyotheocompetentoauthority.ooRelevantoextractoiso reproducedoasounder:o oo"Securityomeasuresocanobeoimposedoonlyoupotooaolimitoando thiso limito iso placedo byo Fundamentalo Rightso guaranteedo underoArticleso14,o19oando21oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,o whicho areo availableo eveno too prisoners.o Simultaneously,o strictomeasuresoneedotoobeoadoptedoagainstojailopersonnelosoo thatothose,oguiltyoofoaidingotheocriminalsoareopunishedoinoano exemplaryo manner.o Sucho steps,o basedo ono availableo information,o appearo too beo lackingo ino theiro questo foro improvingo jailo disciplineo ando makingo prisonso crimeo free.o Instead,o theo authoritieso haveo goneo overboardo ando haveo violatedo valuableo Fundamentalo Rightso ofo theo prisoners.o Intentionobehindotheoactoisoimmaterialoasotheoactofailsotheo testooforeasonableness.oItoisonowowellosettledothatoprisonerso areo humano beingso despiteo theiro libertyo havingo beeno curtailed.o Theyo mayo noto enjoyo allo rightso ando freedomso guaranteedobyotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,oyet,obasicorightso ando libertieso areo availableo too themo whicho areo theo rightso guaranteedobyoArticleso14,o19oando21oofotheoConstitutionoofo India.oCourtoprocessorestrictsotheolibertyoofoprisonersobutotheo sameocourtsoalsoohaveotheodutyotoomonitorothatotheolibertyoiso notorestrictedobeyondotheoboundsoofolaw.oWhileodoingoso,otheo Courtsodoonotobecomeoadministratorsoofoprisons,obutoactoaso theo guardianso ofo fundamentalo rightso too whicho eveno ao prisonero iso entitled.o Ino Sunilo Batrao vs.o Delhio Administration,o1978o(4)oSCCo494o(hereinafteroreferredotoo asoSuniloBatrao(I)),otheoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinotheowordso ofoKrishnaoIyer,oJ.oobserved:oo o "Necessaryo sequituro iso thato eveno ao persono undero deatho sentenceohasohumanorightsowhichoareonon-negotiableoando CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-13-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

eveno ao dangerouso prisoner,o standingo trial,o haso basico libertiesowhichocannotobeobatteredoaway."oo o Theo aboveo waso elaboratedo upono ino 'Charleso Sobrajo vs.o Supdt.oCentraloJail,oTihar,o1978o(4)oSCCo104':"Itoisonowo well-settled,oasoaostreamooforulingsoofoCourtsoproves,othato deterrence,o botho specifico ando general,o rehabilitationo ando institutionalosecurityoareovitaloconsiderations.oCompassiono whereveropossibleoandocrueltyoonlyowhereoinevitable,oisotheo arto ofo correctionalo confinement.o Wheno prisono policyo advancesosuchoaovalidogoal,otheoCourtowillonotointerveneo officiously."oo Aomiddleogroundohasobeenofoundobetweenotheo'handsooff'o doctrineoandotheo'takeoover'otheory.oo xxxoxxxoxxxo Sectiono 59o ofo theo Prisonso Acto empowerso theo Stateo Governmento too makeo ruleso consistento witho theo Act.o Ino exerciseoofosuchopowers,otheoJailoManualohasobeenoframed,o thiso beingo theo updatedo version.o Parao 3o (q)o defineso dangerousoprisoner.oTheosameoisoextractedobelow:oo

(q)o"Dangerousoprisoner"omeans,oanyoprisonerodeclaredotoo beo sucho byo theo Superintendento witho referenceo too theo characteroofosuchoprisoneroinopursuanceoofotheoprovisionsoofo Sectiono56oofotheoPrisonsoAct,o1894."o o oItsoplainoreadingomakesoitoclearothatotheoJailoSuperintendento mayodeclareoanyoprisoneroasosuch,ohowever,oinopursuanceoofo Sectiono 56o ofo theo Prisonso Act.o Sectiono 56o iso regardingo confinementoinoironsoandoisoreproducedohereunder:o "56.oConfinementoinoironso--oWheneverotheoSuperintendento considersoitonecessaryo(withoreferenceoeitherotootheostateoofo theoprisonoorotheocharacteroofotheoprisoners)oforotheosafeo custodyoofoanyoprisonersothatotheyoshouldoconfinedoinoirons,o heomay,osubjectotoosuchorulesoandoinstructionsoasomayobeo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-14-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

laidodownotheoInspectoroGeneralowithotheosanctionoofotheo StateoGovernment,osooconfineothem."o xxxoxxxoxxxo Theofinaloissueoisoregardingoallegedosolitaryoconfinement.o Thereo iso noo disputeo thato eacho ofo theo petitionerso iso beingo confinedoinoaoseparateocelloforo22ohoursoinoaoday.oTheyoareo releasedo fromo theiro respectiveo cellso foro oneo houro ino theo forenoono ando oneo houro ino theo evening.o Iso thiso solitaryo confinement?o xxxoxxxoxxxo Exceptoforooneohouroinotheomorningoandooneohouroinotheo evening,otheoinmateoisoallobyohimselfowithohisosolitudeoando thereo iso noo limito ono theo periodo foro whicho heo willo beo soo confined.o Sucho confinemento iso noto strictlyo solitaryo confinemento buto cano beo calledoquasi-solitaryobecauseotheo inmateoisodeprivedoofohumanocompanyoforoextendedolengthso ofotimeoandosuchoconfinementohasobeenoheldotoobeoextremelyo harshoandoviolativeoofobasicohumanorightsowhichoremainotheo entitlementoofoeveryoprisoneroaccordingotooSuniloBatrao(II).o Itocanothusonotobeojustifiedoevenoonogroundsoofomaintenanceo ofodisciplineoandoorderoandocurtailmentoofocrime.oAoprisonero remainso ao persono ando cannoto beo reducedo too animalo existenceo[theseowordsohaveobeenotakenofromoSuniloBatrao

(II)].oSuchotreatmentocompletelyodiscardsotheorehabilitativeo aspectoofopunishment,owhichoisoaomajorocomponentoinotheo philosophyoofosentencingoinoeveryodevelopedosociety.oItoiso evidentothatotheoletteroofolawolaidodownoinotheopathobreakingo judgmentsoofoSunilo Batrao (I)o ando (II)oisostillotoobeofullyo assimilatedoandoimplemented.oHopeoexpressedooforeplacingo outdatedoprisonolawowithomoreoenlightenedoprescriptions,o stilloremainsoaohope.oTheogroundosituationoinothisocaseoisoao littleopeculiar.oOnooneohand,oliesotheodangeroofocontinuingo crimeo ando jailo violenceo ando ono theo othero hand,o lieso theo demando ofo humano rightso ando constitutionalo rights.o Theo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-15-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

actionoofoconfinementoofoindividualoprisonersoinoindividualo cellsoforomostopartoofotheodayoandoforolimitlessoperiodsoiso impermissibleoandohasobeenoheldoso.oHowever,otheoresulto ofo sucho ao directiono wouldo beo theo immediateo releaseo ofo notorious/hardened/dangerouso criminalso intoo ordinaryo prisonolifeowhichomayobeoaorecipeoforodisaster.oTheothreato heldooutobyotheoactionsoofosuchodesperateopersonsoisorealo ando cannoto beo ignored.o Theo prisono administrationo haso alreadyo takeno stepso too makeo theo areaso ofo confinemento communicationo deado zoneso ando haso beefedo upo security.o Electronico meanso ofo surveillanceo ando ofo suppressingo communicationo ofo anyo sorto haveo alsoo beeno employed.o Therefore,oIoseeonooreasonotoofearotheopetitioneroandoothero similaroprisonersotootheoextentoofodeprivingothemoofotheiro basicorights.oTheoprisonoadministrationocanosurelyocomeoupo withosuggestionsowhichowouldomakeotheocustodyoconformotoo theolawoofotheolandowhileomeetingotheosecurityoconcerns."oo o oo Inotheomatteroofoo"JasviroSinghoandoAnotheroversusoStateo ofoPunjaboandoOthers"obearingoCWPoNo.o5429oofo2010odecidedoono

29.05.2014othisocourtoalsoohasodiscussedoatolengthotheobasicohumanorightso ofotheoprisonersoandoruledoasounder:-o

(18)oAoprisonoinocivilosocietyoisotheoplaceoforoenforceabilityo ofo law.o Allo governmentalo systemso provideo incarcerationo throughoaojudicialoorderoonly.oTheoprisonoorotheoprotecteeso livingo thereo areo thuso instrumentso ando subjectso ofo justiceo deliveryosystem.oTheoJudiciaryoasotheoprincipaloexecutoroando promoteroofotheoruleoofolawohasotoohaveomajorostakesoino respectoofotheoconditionsoprevailingoinotheoprisons.oTheodutyo ofotheoCourtsotowardsojailoreformsohasobecomeoheavierothano beforeoafterotheoenforcementoofoouroConstitutionoasoArticleo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-16-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

21oguaranteesodignifiedolifeo too oneo ando allo includingo theo prison-inmates.oo o

(19)o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino D.o Bhuvano Mohano Patnaiko&oOrs.ovs.oStateoofoAndhraoPradesho&oOrs.,o(1975)o 3o SCCo 185o declaredo thato convictso cannoto beo deniedo theo protectiono ofo fundamentalo rightso whicho theyo otherwiseo possess,omerelyobecauseoofotheiroconviction.oAoconvictowhomo theolawobidsotooliveoinoconfinementothoughostandsodenudedo ofosomeoofotheofundamentalorights,olikeotheorightotoomoveo freelyo oro theo righto too practiceo ao profession,o nonetheless,o sucho convicto shallo continueo too enjoyo othero constitutionalo guaranteeso includingo theo preciouso righto guaranteedo byo Articleo21oofotheoConstitution.o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

(21)oInohisooneoofotheomanyosalutaryoandohistoricalodecisiono [SuniloBatraovs.oDelhioAdministrationo&oOrs.,o(1978)o4oSCCo 494o(popularlyoknownoasoSuniloBatra-I)],oKrishnaoIyer,oJo consideredo theo coreo issue,o whethero ao prisono ipsoo factoo outlawotheoruleoofolaw,olockooutotheojudicialoprocessofromotheo jailogatesoandodeclareoaolongoholidayoforohumanorightsoofo convictsoinoconfinementoorotheoprisonototaloeclipsesojudicialo justiceoforothoseoincarceratedounderotheoordersoofoaojudicialo Court?oTheodictumoveryoemphaticallyoespousedotheocauseoofo jail-inmatesoholdingothato"Prisonsoareobuiltowithostonesoofo Law'o(sangoWilliamoBlake)oandoso,owhenohumanorightsoareo hashedobehindobars,oconstitutionalojusticeoimpeachesosucho law.oInothisosense,ocourtsowhichosignocitizensointooprisonso haveoanoonerousodutyotooensureothat,oduringodetentionoando subjectotootheoConstitution,ofreedomofromotortureobelongsotoo theodetenu."oo o

(22)o Sunilo Batra-I,o amongsto othero things,o ruledo thato theo condemnedo prisonero (likeo Batra)o shallo beo merelyo kepto ino CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-17-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

custodyoandoshallonotobeoputotooworkolikeothoseosentencedotoo rigorousoimprisonment.oSucholikeoconvictsoshallobeoentitledo tooamenitiesoofoordinaryoinmatesoinotheoprisonolikeogames,o books,o newspapers,o reasonablyo goodo food,o theo righto too expression,o artistico ando other,o ando normalo clothingo ando bedding.o Ito waso furthero heldo thato condemnedo prisonerso cannoto beo deniedo theiro righto too eat,o sleep,o worko oro liveo togethero excepto ono specifico groundso warrantingo sucho ao courseoetc.oetc.oo

(23)o Sunilo Batra-Io marchedo faro aheado ofo itso timeso ino emphasisingore-humanisationoofotheoprisoners.oItostatedothato "positiveo experimentso ino re-humanization-meditation,o music,o artso ofo self-expression,o games,o usefulo worko witho wages,o prisono festivals,o sramdano ando service-orientedo activities,ovisitsobyoandotoofamilies,oevenoparticipativeoprisono projectsoandocontrolledocommunityolife,oareoamongotheore-humanizationo strategieso whicho needo consideration.o Socialo justice,o ino theo prisono context,o haso ao functionalo versatilityo hardlyoexplored."oo

(24)o Theo reformso ino prisono administrationo alsoo caughto attentionoinoSuniloBatra-Iowhichonotoonlyoemphasizedotheo needoofolegislativeointerventionofororeplacementoofoobsoleteo prisonolawsobutoalsooforotheore-orientationoandore-visitationo ofo prisono houseo ando practices,o foro "noo longero cano theo Constitutiono beo curtainedo offo fromo theo incarceratedo communityosinceopervasiveosocialojusticeoisoaofightingofaitho withoIndianohumanity."oThus,oinotheocontextoofoSectiono30(2)o ofotheoPrisonoActoitowasoheldothatosuchoprisoneroisonototoobeo completelyosegregatedoexceptoinoextremeocasesoofonecessityo whichomustobeospecificallyomadeoout.oo

(25)oSunilo Batrao vs.o Delhio Administration,o (1980)o3oSCCo 488o(knownoasoSuniloBatra-II),ophenomenallyoliberatedotheo jailo inmateso fromo theo atrocitieso inflictedo througho mentalo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-18-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

torture,o psychico oro physicalo pressureo ando ito broughto ao catenationooforadicalochangesoinoprisonoconditionsolikeoo

(i)oSeparationoofounder-trialsofromoconvictsoinojails;oo

(ii)oTheirorightotooinvokeoArticleo21oofotheoConstitution;oo

(iii)oSeparationoofoyoungoinmatesofromoadults;oo

(iv)oLiberalovisitsobyofamilyoandofriendsoofoprisoners;oo

(v)oBanoonoconfinementoinoirons;oo

(vi)oTheodutiesoandoobligationsoofotheoCourtsowithorespectotoo rightsoofoprisoners;oandoo

(vii)oRe-definingotheodutiesoofoDistrictoMagistrateoetc.oo o

(26)oSuniloBatra-IIodelvedodeeperointootheopetrifyingoeffectso ofolonelinessoofojail-inmatesoasoisoevidentofromotheofollowingo passage:-oo "Visitsotooprisonersobyofamilyoandofriendsoareoaosolaceoino insulation;oandoonlyoaodehumanisedosystemocanoderiveo vicariouso delighto ino deprivingo prisono inmateso ofo thiso humaneo amenity.o Subject,o ofo course,o too searcho ando disciplineoandootherosecurityocriteria,otheorightotoosocietyo ofofellow-men,oparentsoandootherofamilyomembersocannoto beodeniedoinotheolightoofoArt.o19oandoitsosweep."oo o

(27)oItofurtheronoticedothatoevenoasoperotheo1973oreportoofo Nationalo Advisoryo Commissiono "prisonerso shouldo haveo ao 'right'otoovisitation"oandothato"correctionaloofficialsoshouldo noto merelyo tolerateo visitingo buto shouldo encourageo it,o particularlyobyofamilies…oo o '…ito alsoo urgedo thato correctionso officialso shouldo noto eavesdropoonoconversationsoorootherwiseointerfereowitho theoparticipants'oprivacy".oSuniloBatra-IIoveryoforcefullyo ruledothato"weoseeonooreasonowhyotheorightotoobeovisitedo underoreasonableorestrictions,oshouldonotoclaimocurrento constitutionalostatus.oWeohold,osubjectotooconsiderationso CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-19-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

ofosecurityoandodiscipline,othatoliberalovisitsobyofamilyo members,ocloseofriendsoandolegitimateocallers,oareoparto ofotheoprisoners'okitooforightsoandoshallobeorespected."oo o

(28)oSeveralomaladiesowithinotheojailoprecinctsoincludingotheo victimizationoofoyoungoinmatesoatotheohandsoofoadultsodrewo attentiono ino Sunilo Batra-II,o promptingo theo Courto too sayo that:-oo "Ino theo packageo ofo benigno changeso neededo ino ouro prisonso witho ao viewo too reduceo tensionso ando raiseo theo paceo ofo rehabilitation,o weo haveo referredo too acclimatizationoofotheocommunityolifeoandoeliminationoofo sexoviceovisoaovisoprisoneroweohaveoalsooreferredotootheo unscientificomixingoupoinopracticeoofounder-trials,oyoungo offenderso ando longtermo convicts.o Thiso pointo deserveso seriousoattention."oo o

(29)o Theo researcho conductedo byo ao Britisho authoro ono theo pitiableo jailo conditionso ino developedo nations,o depictingo psychoostressoandopressureoonotheoprisonersosentencedoforo longo terms,o overcrowdingo ino ano areao ofo limitedo size,o unisexualoagglomeration,otheoclashoofopersonalitiesoandotheo conflicto ofo interests,o physicalo violenceo foro settlemento ofo disputeoinocommonoandotheoimpactoofosuchoconditionsoonotheo youngoinmates,owasonoticedowithoapprovalobyotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinoMithuovs.oStateoofoPunjab,o(1983)o2oSCCo

277.o xxxo xxxo xxxo

(32)oFrancisoCoralieoMulinovs.oTheoAdministrator,oUniono Territoryo ofo Delhi,o (1981)o 1o SCCo 608o expandedo theo expressiono"personaloliberty"oembeddedoinoArticleo21oofotheo Constitutionoinotheocontextoofotheorightsoofoaodetenueoandoito heldothatotheoprisoneroorodetenueohasoallotheofundamentalo rightsoandootherolegalorightsoavailableotooaofreeoperson,osaveo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-20-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

thoseo whicho areo incapableo ofo enjoymento byo reasono ofo incarceration.oTheoCourtoheld,oinonoouncertainoterms,othato noolawowhichoauthorizesoandonooprocedureowhicholeadsotoo cruel,oinhumanoorodegradingotreatmentocanoeverostandotheo testo ofo reasonablenesso ando non-arbitrarinesso ando thuso wouldoplainlyobeovoidoandoviolativeoofoArticleso14o&o21.o(33)o Severalo othero landmarkso givingo widero connotationo too prisoner'sorightsowithinotheofourowallsoofoaojailoincludingo(i)o StateoofoMaharashtraov.oPrabhakaroPandurantoSanzgirioAIRo 1966oSCo424;o(ii)oSheelaoBarseovs.oStateoofoMaharashtrao

(1983)o 2o SCCo 96;o ando (iii)o Ramamurthyo vs.o Stateo ofo Karnataka,o (1997)o 2o SCCo 642,o areo noto beingo elaboratedo hereotooavoidomultiplicity.oo xxxo xxxo xxxo

(39)oTheoUnitedoNations'oBasicoPrinciplesoforotheoTreatmento ofoPrisoners,o1990ostatesothato"exceptoforothoseolimitationso thato areo demonstrablyo necessitatedo byo theo facto ofo incarceration,oalloprisonersoshalloretainotheohumanorightso ando fundamentalo freedomso seto outo ino theo Universalo Declarationo ofo Humano Rights,o and,o whereo theo Stateo concernedo iso ao party,o theo Internationalo Covenanto ono Economic,o Socialo ando Culturalo Rights,o ando theo InternationaloCovenantoonoCiviloandoPoliticaloRightsoando theoOptionaloProtocolothereto,oasowelloasosuchootherorightso asoareosetooutoinootheroUnitedoNationsocovenants."o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

(47)oTheoUSoSupremeoCourtobyomajorityoupheldoinoprincipleo theo viewo ofo theo Districto Courto ando ruledo thato "aso ao consequenceo ofo theiro owno actions,o prisonerso mayo beo deprivedooforightsothatoareofundamentalotooliberty.oYetotheo Lawo ando theo Constitutiono demando recognitiono ofo certaino otherorights.oPrisonersoretainotheoessenceoofohumanodignityo inherentoinoallopersons.oRespectoforothatodignityoanimateso theo Eightho Amendmento prohibitiono againsto cruelo ando CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-21-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

unusualo punishment".o Ito furthero saido "too incarcerate,o societyotakesofromoprisonersotheomeansotooprovideoforotheiro ownoneeds.oPrisonersoareodependentoonotheoStateoforofood,o clothing,oandonecessaryomedicalocare.oAoprison'sofailureotoo provideo sustenanceo foro inmateso 'mayo actuallyo produceo physicalotortureooroaolingeringodeath'.".oTheoCourtodeviatedo fromoitsopreviousoviewsoinosomeoofotheocitedocasesoandoveryo emphaticallyoruledothato"aoprisonothatodeprivesoprisonersoofo basico sustenance,o includingo adequateo medicalo care,o iso incompatibleowithotheoconceptoofohumanodignityoandohasonoo placeoinocivilizedosociety…"oandothato"…Courtsomayonoto allowoConstitutionaloviolationsotoocontinueosimplyobecauseo aoremedyowouldoinvolveointrusionointootheorealmoofoprisono administration"o xxxo xxxo xxxo

(87)o Theo legislativeo oro executive,o allo policies,o oughto too remainovibrantoandodynamicoasotheostaticoorostaleoconceptso cannotoaddressoallocontemporaryoissues.oUnfortunately,otheo inovogueoexecutiveopoliciesoonotheorightsoofojailoinmatesoareo unevenlyo loadedo witho theo pre-Independenceo mindset.o Theo PunjaboJailoManualonarratesotheopowersoofojailostaffoandotheo obligationsoofoconvictsoinosuchoaotell-taleomannerothatotheo 'prisons'ocanobeolikenedotootheo'chambersoofotorture',oasoifo Articleo21oofotheoConstitutionoandodozensoofohumanorightso areostilloalieno too prison-residents.o (88)o Jailo reformso haveo beeno theo prioritieso ofo none.o Ao littleo improvemento ino guaranteeingo basico humano rights,o thougho stillo faro fromo satisfactory,ohasohappenedowithotheotirelessoeffortsoofotheo Indiano judiciaryo ando ao constanto monitoringo througho jailo inspectionsobyotheoDistrictoandoHighoCourtsowithodueohelpo fromotheopublicospiritedoorganizationsoandoindividualsofromo theo civilo society.o Noneo ofo theo seriouso issueso likeo overcrowding,olackoofocleanoandosufficientotoilets,orequisiteo ando healthyo food,o medicalo facilities,o telecommunicationo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-22-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

facilitiesoorore-orientationohaveobeenoaddressedonorothereo appearso too beo anyo commitmento ofo theo executiveo ino thiso direction.o Thereo areo noo comprehensiveo planso foro rehabilitationo ando re-settlemento ofo theo convictso ono theiro releaseoandomanyoofothemostepooutoofoaodarkoholeotoofallointoo aodarkeroditch.o(89)oThereocanobeonooquarreloandoasorightlyo observedobyoAPoHighoCourtoinoMs.G.oBhargavao(supra)oalsoo thatotheoissuesolikeofacilitationoofoconjugalovisitsoofoconvictso foroprocreationoessentiallyofallowithinotheodomainoofopolicyo makersoandoitohasotoobeoleftotoothemotooevolveoanoeffectiveo mechanismo whethero byo wayo ofo legislationo oro througho executiveodecision.oHowever,owhatocannotobeooverlookedoiso thatotheoconvictsoorootherojailoinmatesoareoaoclassoofopersonso whoo haveo beeno separatedo fromo societyo byo theo Courtso ino performanceo ofo theiro sovereigno duties.o Jailso ando othero Correctionalo Centreso areo theo extendedo limbso ofo justiceo deliveryosystemoasoaomeasureoforotheoenforcementoofojudicialo verdicts.oTheomanagement,oconditionsoofolivingoandofutureo responsibilitiesoofotheoinmatesoinsideotheojailsoetc.,ocannotobeo leftotootheosoleodesireoorodiscretionoofotheoexecutive.oItoiso ratherotheoresponsibilityoofoCourtsotooensureothatotheorightso ofoeveryoresidentoofoprison(s)oorocorrectionalohome(s)oareo dulyoprotectedoandoirrespectiveoofotheofinancialoconstraintso whicho iso theo oft-offeredo explanationo byo ao State,o theo conditionsoofoliving,ore-orientationoororehabilitationoofotheo convictso iso giveno effecto undero theo directo supervision,o commandoandocontroloofotheoCourts.oo

(90)o Theo directionso foro re-visitingo theo legislativeo oro executiveo policyo regimeo whicho areo implicito ino theo observationsomadeohereinaboveoare,ohowever,osubjectotootheo caveatoandoconditionsolikeo-o(i)otheogravityoofotheooffenceo committedobyoaoconvictoandoitsolikelyoeffectoonotheosocietyoino theoeventoofotemporaryorelease;o(i)olikelihoodoofoabscondingo ino theo caseo ofo offenderso ofo heinouso crimes;o (ii)o goodo CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-23-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

behaviorowhileoinojail;o(iii)odurationoofotheoactualosentenceo alreadyo undergone;o (iv)o theo expectedo dateo ofo releaseo ono completionoofoaotenureosentence;o(v)opre-convictionoconducto ofotheoconvict;oetc.oetc.o o oo TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoStateoofoA.P.oVs.o Challao Ramkrishnao Reddyo &o Ors.o (2000)o 5o SCCo 712,oheldothatoao prisoner,owhetheroaoconvictoorounder-otrial,odoesonotoceaseotoobeoaohumano beingo and,o whileo lodgedo ino jail,o heo enjoyso allo hiso fundamentalo rightso guaranteedo byo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao includingo theo righto too lifeo guaranteedobyotheoConstitution.o oo TheoApexoCourtoinotheocaseoofoT.V.oVatheeswaranov.oStateo ofoTamiloNaduo(1983)o2oSCCo68,oheldothatofundamentalorightsoundero Articleso14,o19oando21oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoareoavailableotootheo prisonersoasowelloasofreemen.o oo InotheocaseoofoUpendraoBaxiov.oStateoofoU.P.,o(1983)o2o SCCo308,otheoSupremeoCourtogaveovariousodirectionsoinoorderotooensureo thatotheoinmatesoofotheoprotectiveoHomeoatoAgraodidonotocontinueotooliveo inoinhumaneoandodegradingoconditionsoandothatotheorightotooliveowitho dignityoenshrinedoinoArticleo21oofotheoConstitutionowasomadeorealoando meaningfuloforothem.o oo o WhileotheoCourtoisoconsciousoofotheoneedotooputoanoeffectiveo securityo mechanismo too avoido anyo untowardo incident,o however,o theo pretextoofosecurityocannotobeoprojectedotoodepriveoaoprisoneroofohisobasico rights.oStateowouldobeowithinoitsopowerotootakeoeffectiveomeasuresotoo undoothreatobutosuchomeasuresoneedotoosatisfyotheolegalotestsoofohumano CWP-3474-2021o(O&M)ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-24-ooo2023:PHHC:139790o o

dignityoandorightotoolife.oAobalanceowhichoneedsotoobeomaintainedohasonoto beenostruckoinotheopresentocase.oTheoorderofailsotoosatisfyotheosaidotests.o o o Theoorderodatedo23.12.2020otootheoextentoofoparao2Aopassedo byotheoauthoritiesodoesonotoseemotoobeojustified,oasoperotheoreplyofiledobyo themoorosatisfyotheolegaloprinciplesoprescribedoinolawotooprotectotheorightso ofo theo prisoners.o Theo saido ordero datedo 23.12.2020o issuedo byo theo AdditionaloDirectoroGeneraloofoPoliceo(Jails)oPunjab,oisoaccordinglyoseto asideoatothisostageotootheoeffectoofoaboveoparao2Aothereof.oo o o Theo settingo asideo ofo theo aboveo ordero shall,o however,o noto operateo aso ao baro againsto theo Stateo too implemento sucho measureso aso ito deemsoappropriateoandosatisfyotheorequirementsoofotheobasicofundamentalo rightsotooanoinmate.ooo oTheopetitionostandsodisposedoofoaccordingly.oo o Novembero02,o2023oooo o o ooo(VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo rajoarorao o o o o o o JUDGEo o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oYes/Noo Whetheroreportableoo o :oYes/Nooo