Consti Completed

8/19/2019 Consti Completed

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Index

1. !able o" #ases $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.3

2. Abstra%t$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ &

3. 'ntrodu%tion $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. &. olution o" *risoners Ri+hts$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.. ,

. *risoners- Ri+hts and Arti%le 21 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.10

. Various #ommittee re/orts on *risoners- Ri+hts $$$$$$$$1

,. #on%lusion$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$... 22

. Biblio+ra/hy $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$2&

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Table of Cases

• Abdul Rahman Antulay vs. R.S.Nayak (1992) 1 SCC 225.

• A. K. Gopalan v State o !ad"as 195# A$R 2%& 195# SCR ''.

•

ell v ol*sh ++1 ,.S. 52# (19%9).

ounds v Sm*th +-# ,.S. '1% (19%%).

• Khat"* v. State o *ha" A$R 19'1 SC 92'.

• an/a v. Ne0 o"k -%# ,.S. 1-9 (192).

• !adhav 3aya0adan"ao 3oskot v. State o !aha"asht"a 19%' A$R 15+'

• !aneka Gandh* v. ,n*on o $nd*a A$R 19%' SC 5%9.

• !.3.3oskot v. State o !aha"asht"a A$R 19%' SC 15+'.

• 4"em Shanke" Shukla v. elh* Adm*n*st"at*on A$R 19'# SC 15-5.

• Ranb*" v. State o 4un6ab 1962 S.C. 510 (515)

• Rudal Shah v. State o *ha" 19'- A$R 1#'& 19'- SCR (-) 5#'.

• Sob"a6 v. Sup"*tendent Cent"al 7a*l A$R 19%' SC 151+.

• State o !aha"asht"a v. 4"abhaka" 4andu"an8 A$R 19 SC +2+.

• Sun*l at"a v. elh* Adm*n*st"at*on($) A$R 19%' SC 1%5.

• Sun*l at"a v. elh* Adm*n*st"at*on($$) A$R 19'# SC 15%9.

• State o Andh"a 4"adesh v. Challa Ramak"*sha Reddy :"s A$R 2### SC

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Introduction

!he uality o" thinin+ and belie"s o" a so%iety %an 4ud+ed by the uality o" its /risons. 't is

the human li"e that ne%essitates human ri+hts. Bein+ in a %iilised so%iety or+anised 5ith la5

and a system as su%h6 it is essential to ensure "or eery %iti7en a reasonably di+ni"ied li"e.

!hus eery ri+ht is a human ri+ht as that hel/s a human to lie lie a human bein+. s/e%ially

5hen the /rin%i/les and ob4e%ties o" %riminolo+y and /enolo+y are a%uirin+ a human "a%e

the en"or%ement o" human ri+hts assume a ery +reat relean%e. Sim/ly be%ause a /erson is

under a trial or %oni%ted6 his ri+hts %annot be dis%arded as a 5hole.

'n the #onstitution o" 'ndia6 there is no s/e%i"i% +uarantee o" *risoner-s Ri+hts. But there are

%ertain ri+hts +ien under *art8''' o" the #onstitution6 5hi%h are aailable to the /risoners

too6 be%ause a /risoner remains a 9/erson- in the /rison. A *risoner; is a /erson 5ho is

de/ried o" his /ersonal liberty6 due to the %oni%tion o" a %rime6 and im/risonment is the

most %ommon method o" /unishment /roided by all le+al systems. 'm/risonment maes the

/risoner re/ent about his /ast %ondu%t. !he 4udi%iary /rote%ts the ri+hts o" /risoners and

re%o+ni7es their ri+hts. !hey are /rote%ted "rom torture and solitary %on"inement. !here are

%ertain statutes in the #onstitution 5hi%h /roides that %ertain ri+hts o" the /risoners are

en"or%ed6 lie6 *risoners A%t6 100< *risoners (Attendan%e in #ourts) A%t6 1< *rison A%t6

1& et%. !here are also *rison and *oli%e =anuals6 5hi%h hae %ertain rules and sa"e+uards

"or the /risoners6 and it is an obli+ation on the /rison authorities to "ollo5 these rules. 1

A%%ordin+ to the >niersal ?e%laration o" @uman Ri+hts6 All human bein+s are born "ree

and eual in di+nity and ri+hts. !hey are endo5ed 5ith reason and %ons%ien%e6 and should a%t

to5ards one other in a s/irit o" brotherhood;2$$

!he 'ndian so%io8le+al system is based on non8iolen%e6 mutual res/e%t and human di+nity o"

the indiidual. '" a /erson %ommits any %rime6 it does not mean that by %ommittin+ a %rime6

he %eases to be a human bein+ and that he %an be de/ried o" those as/e%ts o" li"e 5hi%h

%onstitutes human di+nity. en the /risoners hae human ri+hts be%ause the /rison torture is

not the last dru+ in the usti%e *harma%o/oeia but a %on"ession o" "ailure to do 4usti%e to

1 A'SARCA !. R'D@!S EF *R'SENRS 8 A =C!@ ER RAG'!CHhttp://www.answeringlaw.com/php/displayContent.php?linkId=1070 isited on 30!"!2013

2 #i$ay %. &'pta. (erspecties on )'man *ights. #ikas ('+lishing )o'se, 1""-


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%orre%tional authorities6 and it established a belie" that inmates hae a /la%e in the so%iety.

en thou+h there are many bene"its to the %on%e/t o" /risoner-s ri+hts6 there are also seeral

"a%tors 5hi%h had /reented its +ro5th and eI/ansion. !he %ourts 5ere relu%tant in

introdu%in+ modi"i%ation to the %orre%tional /ro%ess as the ud+es "elt that they 5ere la%in+

the eI/ertise ne%essity to run a /rison. !he %ourts %ited the do%trine o" se/aration o" /o5ers6

5hi%h made the res/onsibility o" the /enal system on the eIe%utie and le+islatie bran%hes

o" the +oernment.

'n the 4udi%ial /ronoun%ements made by the >S Su/reme #ourts in the de%ision made in

an/a v Ne0 o"k +6 the %ourt held that ri+ht o" /ria%y to a %ertain eItent is de/ried to the

/risoner 5hile he is inside the /rison. *rison se%urity ne%essitates eItreme restri%tions on

/ersonal /ro/erty. *risoners6 althou+h %oni%ted o" a %rime6 retain %ertain %onstitutional

ri+hts6 but they do not lose all %iil ri+hts6 thou+h< they are de/ried o" arious other ri+hts.

'n %ase o" ounds v Sm*th56 the Su/reme #ourt held that the /risoners hae a %onstitutional

ri+ht o" a%%ess to the %ourts. !his ri+ht o" a%%ess in%ludes ri+ht to le+al assistan%e.

'n ell v ol*sh the >S Su/reme %ourt re%o+ni7ed the ri+hts o" /ria%y as a "undamental

ri+ht. 'n the Ameri%an Ga5 the /erson-s ri+hts are su/reme and it %ould be only taen a5ay

by the due /ro%ess o" Ga5. '" a /erson6 has been senten%ed to im/risonment "or more thanone year is disuali"ied "or the membershi/ o" the @ouse o" #ommons 5hile serin+ the

senten%e.

hen an o""ender is %oni%ted then he 5as "or"eited o" all his ri+hts8 this 5as the

/resum/tion ori+inally6 and also6 the /risoner 5as under the mer%y o" %orre%tional

administrators. But this ie5 5as later %han+ed by the deelo/ment o" /risoner-s ri+ht. 'n the

earlier %enturies there 5as no authority by the %ourt to inter"ere 5ith the re+ulations o"

/unishments im/osed u/on a /erson. !he /risoner +radually losses his %iil ri+hts too. But at

/resent in a senten%e o" im/risonment does not eItin+uish a /risoner-s ri+ht. !he only

disability to a %oni%ted /erson is that he is denied his ri+ht to ote "or the duration o" his

senten%es. 't is also seen that6 in6 a %oni%t is unable to sue "or torts6 but in a %oni%t %ould do

3,0 >.S. 13 (12)

&30 >.S. 1, (1,,)

- &&1 >.S. 20 (1,)

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so.

'" a /risoner su""ers any in4uries due to the other /risoners in the /rison6 as a result o" brea%h

o" /rison rules6 the /rison authority are not hain+ any %ause o" a%tion "or the dama+es.

@en%e in due to brea%h o" rules the /risoner is not entitled to sue "or dama+es6 in earlier

years. But no5 this situation has %han+ed6 (no5 there is a le+al duty u/on the +oernment to

tae reasonable %ares "or the sa"ety o" the /risoners6 other5ise the /rison authorities 5ould be

held liable) i.e. the /rison authorities has a duty to /rote%t the interest o" the /risoners in

a%%ordan%e to the /rison rules. 'n Dladstone %ommittee6 the need "or better a"ter %are o"

dis%har+ed /risoners 5as re%ommended. 'n uro/e6 as a means o" re%lamation6 the Assembly

o" the Gea+ue o" Nations stressed on the as/e%t o" re8ada/tation o" o""enders. !he >N #harter

had +ien em/hasi7e /risoners /ersonhood and their ri+hts. For the treatment o" /risoners6

a"ter the orld ar ''6 Standard =inimum Rules 5ere dra"ted. 'n 1&6 the Deneral

Assembly o" >nited Nations had ado/ted a >niersal ?e%laration o" @uman Ri+hts. 'n this

the basi% /rin%i/les o" la5 5hi%h hae to be a//lied by the %ourts in the /ro%ess o"

administration o" 4usti%e is bein+ /roided. !his in%ludes ri+ht to li"e6 liberty and se%urity o"

/erson6 euality o" treatment and the "reedom "rom torture6 %ruel6 in human or de+radin+

treatment. !he >N Deneral Assembly had also ado/ted !he ?e%laration o" *rote%tion "rom

!orture6 1,. 'n 16 Amnesty 'nternational ado/ted %ertain standard rules "or the treatment

o" /risoners. !his in%ludes %ertain basi% /rin%i/les o" la5 5hi%h are "ollo5ed by most o" the

demo%rati% %ountries. 't /roides "or the se+re+ation o" /risoners on the basis o" seI6 a+e6

nature o" /unishment and +raity o" the o""en%e %ommitted. 't also %ondemned the

/unishment lie solitary %on"inement 5hi%h 5as earlier used by the /rison authorities. !hese

rules also hel/ "or the so%ial rehabilitation and a"ter %are /ro+rammes o" the /risoners

Prisoner rights in India and Article 21

@o5eer in 'ndia the ori+in o" *risoner Ri+hts %an be tra%ed ba% in the land mar %ase o" A.

K. Gopalan v State o !ad"as% . !he main %ontention raised by the /etitioner 5as on the

/hrase /ro%edure established by la5;6 as %ontained in Art. 21 o" the %onstitution< 5hi%h

in%ludes a 9"air and reasonable- /ro%edure and not a mere /ro%edure /res%ribed by the state

"or the de/riation o" li"e or /ersonal liberty o" indiiduals6 as it 5as seen in Do/alan-s %ase6

7 1"0 I* 27, 1"0 C*

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5here he 5as totally de/ried o" his /ersonal liberty. en the ri+ht to "reedom o" moement

5as not aailable to him6 5hi%h 5as a "undamental ri+ht.

'n another im/ortant %ase o" State o !aha"asht"a v 4"abhaka" 4andu"an8 '6 the Su/reme

#ourt held that the mere detention 5ould not restri%t other "undamental ri+hts< the

A/eI #ourt also held that6 the /ersonal liberty (Arti%le821) has been iolated in this %ase. 'n

this %ase6 the res/ondent 5as detained in the 4ail in order to /reent him "rom a%tin+ in a

manner /re4udi%ial to the de"en%e o"6 /ubli% sa"ety and maintenan%e o" /ubli% order. From the

4ail6 he 5rote a boo in =arathi6 5hi%h 5as based on s%ienti"i% interest6 and 5as not

/re4udi%ial. !he /risoner ased the +oernment and the Su/erintendent to send the manus%ri/t

outside the 4ail "or /ubli%ation6 but 5as re4e%ted. But6 the @i+h #ourt held the ie5 that6 the

%iil ri+hts and liberties o" a %iti7en %ould not be %urbed by the order o" detention. Similar

ie5 5as also been undertaen by the Su/reme #ourt also.

!he Su/reme #ourt and the @i+h #ourts hae %ommented u/on the de/lorable %onditions

/reailin+ inside the /risons6 resultin+ in iolation o" /risoner si+hts. *risoners- ri+hts hae

be%ome an im/ortant item in the a+enda "or /rison re"orms. !he 'ndian Su/reme #ourt has

been a%tie in res/ondin+ to human ri+ht iolations in 'ndian 4ails and has6 in the /ro%ess6

re%o+nised a number o" ri+hts o" /risoners by inter/retin+ Arti%les 216 16 226 326 3, and 3A

o" the #onstitution in a /ositie and humane 5ay. !he @on-ble Su/reme #ourt o" 'ndia by

inter/retin+ Arti%le 21 o" the #onstitution has deelo/ed @R uris/ruden%e "or the

/reseration and /rote%tion o" /risoner-s ri+ht to human di+nity. Althou+h it is %learly

mentioned that de/riation o" Arti%le 21 is 4usti"iable a%%ordin+ to /ro%edure established by

la56 this /ro%edure %annot be arbitrary6 un"air or unreasonable.

'n the landmar %ase o" Khat"* v State o *ha" 96 this is /o/ularly no5n as Bha+al/ur

Blindin+ #ase6 the Su/reme #ourt held that6 the ri+ht to "ree le+al aid is an essential

in+redient o" "air6 4ust and reasonable /ro%edure "or a /erson a%%used o" an o""en%e6 and this

ri+ht has been +uaranteed under Arti%le8216 o" the #onstitution. 'n this %ase6 a number o"

/ersons 5ere /ut under /rison. 't 5as also held in this %ase6 that the State has to /roide

%om/ensation to the blinded /risoners6 as there 5as a iolation o" their ri+ht to li"e and

/ersonal liberty6 under Arti%le821.

I* 1"-- C 2

" A'R 11 S# 2


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'n !.3.3oskot v State o !aha"asht"a1#6 Su/reme #ourt held that ri+ht o" a//eal is an

inte+ral /art o" the "air /ro%edure as +ien in Art. 21 o" the #onstitution. 't also 5as %riti%al

about the silent de/riation o" liberty %aused by unreasonableness6 arbitrariness and un"air

/ro%edures inside the 4ail. !his /ro%edure says that the indis/ensable essen%e o" liberty and

natural 4usti%e. 'n this %ase the Su/reme #ourt laid do5n that the %onstitutional mandate

under Art. 21 read 5ith Art. 1 (1) (d) /res%ribes %ertain to the /risoners under+oin+ senten%e

inside the 4ail.

'n 4"em Shanke" Shukla v elh* Adm*n*st"at*on116 Su/reme #ourt stru% do5n the /roision

o" determinin+ 5ho 5as to be hand%u""ed on the basis o" 5hether the /risoner is ri%h or /oor.

!he Su/reme #ourt in this %ase +ae a number o" dire%tions 5ith a ie5 to re"ormin+ and

humani7in+ 4ail administration and also held that the /ro%edure o" hand%u""in+ is a iolation

o" Arti%le821. @and%u""in+ is /ermitted only in eItraordinary %ir%umstan%es.

'n the %ase o" Rudal Shah v State o *ha" 126 the /etitioner 5as a%uitted by the Sessions

#ourt o" Bihar on 3rd une6 16 but he 5as released "rom 4ail on 1th E%tober6 126 i.e.6

1& years a"ter he 5as a%uitted. !he Su/reme #ourt6 held the ie5 that6 this ille+al detention

by the *oli%e6 is a iolation o" Arti%le821 (ri+ht to li"e and liberty)6 and hen%e a monetary

%om/ensation is to be /roided and also the State should tae a%tion a+ainst these o""i%ers.

't is no more o/en to debate that %oni%ts are not 5holly denuded o" their "undamental ri+hts.

@o5eer6 /risoner-s liberty is in the ery nature o" thin+s %ir%ums%ribed by the ery "a%t o"

his %on"inement. @is interest in the limited liberty le"t to him is then all the more substantial

%oni%tion "or a %rime does not redu%e the /erson into a non8/erson 5hose ri+hts are sub4e%t

to the 5hims o" the /rison administration and there"ore6 the im/osition o" any ma4or

/unishment 5ithin the /rison system is %ondition u/on the obseran%e o" /ro%edural

sa"e+uards.

10 A'R 1, S# 1&

11 A'R 10 S# 13

12 A'R 106 13 S#R (3) 0

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'n State o Andh"a 4"adesh v. Challa Ramak"*shna Reddy1- it 5as held by the Su/reme #ourt

that: A /risoner6 be he a %oni%t or under8trial or a detenu6 does not %ease to be a human

bein+. en 5hen lod+ed in the 4ail6 he %ontinues to en4oy all his Fundamental Ri+hts

in%ludin+ the ri+ht to li"e under Arti%le 21 o" the 'ndian #onstitution. En bein+ %oni%ted o"

%rime and de/ried o" their liberty in a%%ordan%e 5ith the /ro%edure established by la56

/risoners still retain the residue o" %onstitutional ri+hts.;

Sun*l at"a ve"sus elh* Adm*n*st"at*on1+(1)& the /ra%ti%e o" ee/in+ undertrails 5ith %oni%ts

in 4ail 5as re+arded by the Su/reme #ourt as inhuman. !he %ourt held that it o""ended the test

o" reasonableness in Arti%le 1 and "airness in Arti%le 21.

!he /unishment o" solitiary %on"inement lie Shobra4 %ase6 5as re+arded as iolatie o"

Arti%le 21 o" the %onstitution by statin+ that liberty to moe6 miI6 min+le6 tal6 share

%om/any 5ith the %o8/risoners.6 i" substantially %urtailed by ee/in+ a /risoner in solitary

%on"inement6 5ould be iolatie o" Arti%le 216 unless the %urtailment has the ba%in+ o" la5.

Sun*l at"a vs. elh* Adm*n*st"at*on($$)15 &!he %ourt in the aboe %ase also +ae some

?ire%ties "or the /rison sta"" "or the 5el"are o" the /risoners. !hese dire%ties %an be

enumerated as "ollo5s:

At this sta+e6 5e may re"er to the dire%ties +ien to the state and /rison sta"":8

1. !he State shall tae early ste/s to /re/are in @indi< a *risoner-s @andboo and

%ir%ulate %o/ies to brin+ le+al a5areness home to the inmates. *eriodi%al 4ail bulletins

statin+ ho5 im/roements and habilitatie /ro+rammes are brou+ht into the /rison

may %reate a "ello5shi/ 5hi%h 5ill ease tensions. A /risoner-s 5all /a/er6 5hi%h 5ill

"reely entilate +riean%es6 5ill also redu%e stress. All these are im/lementary o"

Se%tion 1 o" he *risons A%t.

13 I* 2000,

1 A'R 1, S# 1,

1 I* 1"0 C 17"

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2. !he State shall tae ste/s to ee/ u/ to the Standard =inimum Rules "or !reatment o"

*risoners re%ommended by the >nited Nations6 es/e%ially those relatin+ to 5or and

5a+es6 treatment 5ith di+nity6 %ommunity %onta%t and %orre%tional strate+ies. 'n this

latter as/e%t6 the obserations 5e hae made o" holisti% deelo/ment o" /ersonality

shall be e/t in ie5.

3. !he *risons A%t needs rehabilitation and the *rison =anual total oerhaul6 een the

model manual bein+ out o" "o%us 5ith healin+ +oals. A %orre%tional8%um8orientation

%ourse is ne%essitous "or the /rison sta"" in%ul%atin+ the %onstitutional alues6

thera/euti% a//roa%hes and tension8"ree mana+ement.

&. !he /risonersJ ri+hts shall be /rote%ted by the %ourt by its 5rit 4urisdi%tion /lus

%ontem/t /o5er. !o mae this 4urisdi%tion iable6 "ree le+al seri%es to the /risoner

/ro+rammes shall be /romoted by /ro"essional or+anisations re%o+nised by the %ourt

su%h as Free Ge+al Aid (Su/reme #ourt) So%iety. !he ?istri%t Bar shall6

5e re%ommend6 ee/ a %ell "or /risoner relie".

Arti%le 21 +uarantees /rote%tion o" li"e and /ersonal liberty. !hou+h %ou%hed in the ne+atie

it %on"ers the "undamental ri+ht to li"e and /ersonal liberty.

'n !aneka Gandh* ve"sus ,n*on o $nd*a1 & usti%e Bha+5ati obsered that i" a la5 de/riin+

a /erson o" /ersonal liberty and /res%ribin+ a /ro%edure "or that /ur/ose 5ithin the meanin+

o" Arti%le 21 has to stand the test o" one or more o" the "undamental ri+hts %on"erred under

Arti%le 16 5hi%h may be a//li%able in a +ien situation6 eIhyo/thesis it must also be liable

to be tested 5ith re"eren%e to Arti%le 1&. 'n another %ase it 5as held that the ri+ht to a//eal o"

a /risoner is an im/ortant ri+ht 5hile he is in /rison be%ause he is de/endent on that ri+ht. 1,

usti%e V.R. Krishna 'yer in Cha"les Sob"a6 v. Supdt.& Cent"al 7a*l 1' & obsered that

im/risonment does not s/ell "are5ell to "undamental ri+hts althou+h6 by a realisti% re8

a//raisal6 #ourts 5ill re"use to re%o+ni7e the "ull /ano/ly o" /art ''' en4oyed by "ree %iti7ens.

Further6 obsered that the aIiom o" /rison 4usti%e is the #ourt-s %ontinuin+ duty and authority

1- A'R 1, S# ,

17 adha )ayawadanrao )oskot . tate o4 aharashtra 1"7 I* 1

1 A'R 1, S# 11&

11


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to ensure that the 4udi%ial 5arrant 5hi%h de/ries a /erson o" his li"e or liberty is not

eI%eeded6 suberted or stulti"ied. 't is a sort o" solemn %oenant runnin+ 5ith the /o5er to

senten%e. Re"errin+ to the de%ision o" Su/reme #ourt in !aneka Gandh*6 it 5as obsered that

*risoner-s retain all ri+hts en4oyed by "ree liti+ants eI%e/t those lost ne%essary as an in%ident

o" %on"inement6 the ri+hts en4oyed by /risoner-s under Arti%le 1&6 1 and 21 thou+h limited6

are not stati% and 5ill rise to human hei+hts 5hen %hallen+in+ situation arise. 1

Also the Su/reme #ourt s/elled out "our uasi8mandates:8

(a) !he State shall tae early ste/s to /re/are in @indi6 a /risonerJs handboo and %ir%ulate

%o/ies to brin+ le+al a5areness home to the inmates. *eriodi%al 4ail bulletins statin+ ho5

im/roements and "a%ilitatie /ro+rammes are brou+ht into the /rison may %reate a

"ello5shi/6 5hi%h 5ill ease tensions. A /risonersJ 5all/a/er6 5hi%h 5ill "reely entilate

+riean%es 5ill also redu%e stress. All these are im/lementers o" Se%tion 1 o" the *risons

A%t.

(b) !he State shall tae ste/s to ee/ u/ to the Standard =inimum Rules "or !reatment o"

*risoners re%ommended by the >nited Nations6 es/e%ially those relatin+ to 5or and 5a+es6

treatment 5ith di+nity6 %ommunity %onta%t and %orre%tional strate+ies. 'n this latter as/e%t6 the

obserations 5e hae made o" holisti% deelo/ment o" /ersonality shall be e/t in ie5.

(;) !he *risons A%t needs rehabilitation and the *rison =anual total oerhaul6 een the

=odel =anual bein+ out o" "o%us 5ith healin+ +oals. A %orre%tional8%um8orientation %ourse

is ne%essitous "or the /rison sta"" in%ul%atin+ the %onstitutional alues6 thera/euti% a//roa%hes

and tension8"ree mana+ement.

(d). !he /risonersJ ri+hts shall be /rote%ted by the %ourt by its 5rit 4urisdi%tion /lus %ontem/t

/o5er. !o mae this 4urisdi%tion iable6 "ree le+al seri%es to the /risoner /ro+rammes shall

be /romoted by /ro"essional or+anisations re%o+nised by the %ourt su%h as "or eIam/le. Free

Ge+al Aid (Su/reme #ourt) So%iety. !he ?istri%t Bar shall6 5e re%ommend6 ee/ a %ell "or

/risoner relie".

!hese uasi8mandates ensured that the *rison "a%ilities 5ere made better and the /risoners

5ere not ill8treated.

1" Su/ra note 1&

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!he Su/reme #ourt in seeral de%ision held that the eI/ression /ro%edure established by

la5; in Arti%le 21 enisa+es an eI/editious /ro%edure. !here"ore6 a /ro%edure in 5hi%h the

trial 5as unduly delayed "or no "ault o" the /etitioner 5as held to be an anti8thesis o" an

eI/editious /ro%edure6 termed as a blatantly slo5 /ro%edure6 sho%s 4udi%ial %ons%ien%e and

%asts a ery sad re"le%tion on the 4udi%ial system. !he ri+ht to s/eedy %riminal trial is one o"

the most aluable "undamental ri+hts +uaranteed to a %iti7en under the #onstitution6 5hi%h

ri+ht is inte+ral /art o" ri+ht to li"e and liberty +uaranteed under Arti%le 21.

'n Abdul Rahman Antulay vs. R.S.Nayak 2# & the #onstitution Ben%h laid do5n the "ollo5in+

/ro/ositions intended to sere as +uidelines:8

(1) Fair6 4ust and reasonable /ro%edure im/li%it in Arti%le 21 o" the #onstitution %reates a

ri+ht in the a%%used to be tried s/eedily. Ri+ht to s/eedy trial is the ri+ht o" the a%%used. !he

"a%t that a s/eedy trial is also in /ubli% interest or that it seres the so%ial interest also6 does

not mae it any the less the ri+ht o" the a%%used. 't is in the interest o" all %on%erned that the

+uilt or inno%en%e o" the a%%used is determined as ui%ly as /ossible in the %ir%umstan%es.

(2) Ri+ht to s/eedy trial "lo5in+ "rom Arti%le 21 en%om/asses all the sta+es6 namely the sta+e

o" inesti+ation6 inuiry6 trial6 a//eal6 reision and re8trial. !hat is ho56 this #ourt has

understood this ri+ht and there is no reason to tae a restri%ted ie5.

(3) !he %on%erns underlyin+ the ri+ht to s/eedy trial "rom the /oint o" ie5 o" the a%%used

are:

(a) the /eriod o" remand and /re8%oni%tion detention should be as short as /ossible. 'n other

5ords6 the a%%used should not be sub4e%ted to unne%essary or unduly lon+ in%ar%eration /rior

to his %oni%tion<

(b) the 5orry6 anIiety6 eI/ense and disturban%e to his o%ation and /ea%e6 resultin+ "rom an

unduly /rolon+ed inesti+ation6 inuiry or trial should be minimal< and

(;) undue delay may 5ell result in im/airment o" the ability o" the a%%used to de"end himsel"6

5hether on a%%ount o" death6 disa//earan%e or non aailability o" 5itnesses or other5ise.

(&) At the same time6 one %annot i+nore the "a%t that it is usually the a%%used 5ho is interested

in delayin+ the /ro%eedin+s. As is o"ten /ointed out6 delay is a no5n de"en%e ta%ti%;. Sin%e

20 (12) 1 S## 22

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the burden o" /roin+ the +uilt o" the a%%used lies u/on the /rose%ution6 delay ordinarily

/re4udi%es the /rose%ution. Non8aailability o" 5itnesses6 disa//earan%e o" eiden%e by la/se

o" time really 5or a+ainst the interest o" the /rose%ution. E" %ourse6 there may be %ases

5here the /rose%ution6 "or 5hateer reason6 also delays the /ro%eedin+s. !here"ore6 in eery

%ase6 5here the ri+ht to s/eedy trial is alle+ed to hae been in"rin+ed6 the "irst uestion to be

/ut and ans5ered is 5ho is res/onsible "or the delayH *ro%eedin+s taen by either /arty in

+ood "aith6 to indi%ate their ri+hts and interest6 as /er%eied by them6 %annot be treated as

delayin+ ta%ti%s nor %an the time taen in /ursuin+ su%h /ro%eedin+s be %ounted to5ards

delay. 't +oes 5ithout sayin+ that "riolous /ro%eedin+s or /ro%eedin+s taen merely "or

delayin+ the day o" re%onin+ %annot be treated as /ro%eedin+s taen in +ood "aith. !he mere

"a%t that an a//li%ationL/etition is admitted and an order o" stay +ranted by a su/erior %ourt is

by itsel" no /roo" that the /ro%eedin+ is not "riolous. Very o"ten these stays are obtained on

eI /arte re/resentation.

() hile determinin+ 5hether undue delay has o%%urred (resultin+ in iolation o" Ri+ht to

S/eedy !rial) one must hae re+ard to all the attendant %ir%umstan%es6 in%ludin+ nature o"

o""en%e6 number o" a%%used and 5itnesses6 the 5orload o" the %ourt %on%erned6 /reailin+

lo%al %onditions and so on 5hat is %alled6 the systemi% delays. 't is true that it is the

obli+ation o" the State to ensure a s/eedy trial and State in%ludes 4udi%iary as 5ell6 but arealisti% and /ra%ti%al a//roa%h should be ado/ted in su%h matters instead o" a /edanti% one.

() a%h and eery delay does not ne%essarily /re4udi%e the a%%used. Some delays may

indeed 5or to his adanta+e. As has been obsered by *o5ell6 . in a"ke" it %annot be said

ho5 lon+ a delay is too lon+ in a system 5here 4usti%e is su//osed to be s5i"t but deliberate;.

!he same idea has been stated by hite6 . in ,.S. .


15/20

a%%usedJs /lea o" denial o" s/eedy trial %annot be de"eated by sayin+ that the a%%used did at

no time demand a s/eedy trial. '" in a +ien %ase6 he did mae su%h a demand and yet he 5as

not tried s/eedily6 it 5ould be a /lus /oint in his "aour6 but the mere non8asin+ "or a s/eedy

trial %annot be /ut a+ainst the a%%used.

() >ltimately6 the %ourt has to balan%e and 5ei+h the seeral releant "a%tors 9balan%in+

test- or 9balan%in+ /ro%ess- and determine in ea%h %ase 5hether the ri+ht to s/eedy trial has

been denied in a +ien %ase.

() Erdinarily s/eain+6 5here the %ourt %omes to the %on%lusion that ri+ht to s/eedy trial o"

an a%%used has been in"rin+ed the %har+es or the %oni%tion6 as the %ase may be6 shall be

uashed. But this is not the only %ourse o/en. !he nature o" the o""en%e and other

%ir%umstan%es in a +ien %ase may be su%h that uashin+ o" /ro%eedin+s may not be in the

interest o" 4usti%e. 'n su%h a %ase6 it is o/en to the %ourt to mae su%h other a//ro/riate order

in%ludin+ an order to %on%lude the trial 5ithin a "iIed time 5here the trial is not %on%luded

or redu%in+ the senten%e 5here the trial has %on%luded as may be deemed 4ust and

euitable in the %ir%umstan%es o" the %ase.

(10) 't is neither adisable nor /ra%ti%able to "iI any time8limit "or trial o" o""en%es. Any su%h

rule is bound to be uali"ied one. Su%h rule %annot also be eoled merely to shi"t the burdeno" /roin+ 4usti"i%ation on to the shoulders o" the /rose%ution. 'n eery %ase o" %om/laint o"

denial o" ri+ht to s/eedy trial6 it is /rimarily "or the /rose%ution to 4usti"y and eI/lain the

delay. At the same time6 it is the duty o" the %ourt to 5ei+h all the %ir%umstan%es o" a +ien

%ase be"ore /ronoun%in+ u/on the %om/laint. !he Su/reme #ourt o" >SA too has re/eatedly

re"used to "iI any su%h outer time8limit in s/ite o" the SiIth Amendment. Nor do 5e thin

that not "iIin+ any su%h outer limit in e""e%tuates the +uarantee o" ri+ht to s/eedy trial.

(11) An ob4e%tion based on denial o" ri+ht to s/eedy trial and "or relie" on that a%%ount6

should "irst be addressed to the @i+h #ourt. en i" the @i+h #ourt entertains su%h a /lea6

ordinarily it should not stay the /ro%eedin+s6 eI%e/t in a %ase o" +rae and eI%e/tional nature.

Su%h /ro%eedin+s in @i+h #ourt must6 ho5eer6 be dis/osed o" on a /riority basis. 'n Ranb*"

v. State o 4un6ab also it has been held that all the /risoners are entitled to s/eedy trial21

'n another %ase o" 4"em Shanka" Shukla v. elh* Adm*n*st"at*on226 the Su/reme #ourt stru%

do5n the /roisions o" the *an4ab *oli%e rules 5hi%h dis%rimination bet5een the ri%h and the

21 1"-2 .C. 10 516

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/oor /risoner in determinin+ 5ho 5as to be hand%u""ed. !he #ourt also held that in the

absen%e o" the es%ortin+ authority re8%ordin+ 5hy the /risoner is bein+ /ut under hand%u""s6

the /ro%edure o" hand%u""in+ is a iolation o" Arti%le 21. !he %ourt %on%luded 5ith the

obseration: Me %learly de%lare and it shall be obeyed "rom the 'ns/e%tor Deneral o" *oli%e

and 'ns/e%tor Deneral o" *risons to the es%ort %onstable and the 4ail 5arder8that the rule

re+ardin+ a /risoner in transit bet5een /rison house and %ourt house is "reedom "rom

hand%u""s and the eI%e/tion6 under %onditions o" 4udi%ial su/erision 5e hae indi%ated

earlier6 5ill be restraints 5ith irons to be 4usti"ied be"ore or a"ter. e mandate the 4udi%ial

o""i%er be"ore 5hom the /risoner is /rodu%ed to interro+ate the /risoner as a rule6 5hether he

has been sub4e%ted to hand%u""s or other JironsJ treatment6 and i" he has been6 the o""i%ial

%on%erned shall be ased to eI/lain the a%tion "orth5ith in the li+ht o" this 4ud+ement.M

Various Coittee Re!orts "or The Protection #f Prisoners$ Rights

Various %ommittees hae been already set u/ so as to see that there is a /rote%tion o"

/risoner-s ri+hts in 'ndia. !hese %ommittees analysed the situation and re%ommended some

alternaties so as to im/roe the %onditions o" the Ri+hts o" the *risoners.

!he "irst #ommittee on *rison Re"orms 5as a//ointed in 136 5ith Gord =a%aulay as one

o" its member. !he neIt %ommittee 5as a//ointed in 1&. 'n 1,,6 there 5as a %on"eren%e o"

eI/erts to enuire into /rison administration. Another %ommittee 5as a//ointed to eIamine

4ail administration in 18. En the basis o" this re/ort6 the *risons A%t 1& and the

*risoners A%t 100 5ere /assed. !he 'ndian ails #ommittee eIamined the %onditions o"

/risons not only in but also in other %ountries.

• 'n 16 the Doernment o" 'ndia set u/ the All 'ndia ail =anual #ommittee. !his

%ommittee /re/ared the =odel *rison rules in 1 "or the +uidan%e o" the State

+oernments.

• 'n 1,,6 'smail #ommittee (%onstituted by the !amil Nadu +oernment) in its re/ort

submitted the alle+ations o" ill treatment and beatin+. !his %ommittee made

22 Supra note 11

1-


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su++estions "or /rison re"orms and ri+hts o" the /risoners. A%%ordin+ to usti%e 'smail6

the state has a duty to s/end "or the rehabilitation and re"ormation o" /risoners and

main+ them to re8enter into the mainstream o" the so%iety.

• 'n 1,6 the !amil Nadu *rison Re"orms #ommission 5as %onstituted and it

su++ested that all /ersons de/ried o" their liberty shall be treated 5ith humanity and

5ith res/e%t "or the inherent di+nity and ri+hts o" human /ersons. !his #ommittee had

made some /ro+ressie su++estions 5ith re+ard to 5omen /risoners and also

su++ested that short term /risoners should be +ien 5a+es "or their 5or. 't also

su++ested that a%%used /ersons shall be se+re+ated "rom %oni%ted /ersons and must

be +ien the status o" a non 8%oni%ted /erson.

• !he Doernment o" 'ndia6 has brou+ht to the noti%e o" the Ga5 %ommission o" 'ndia

in its ,th re/ort6 the need "or undertain+ suitable 4udi%ial re"orms and %han+es in

la5 in order to deal 5ith the /roblem %on%ernin+ 5ith a lar+e number o" under trial

/risoners in 'ndian 4ails. !his #ommission has re%ommended s/eedy inesti+ation o"

the %ase6 and se/arate /la%es o" detention "or under trial /risoners.

• 'n 136 usti%e A. N =ulla #ommittee o" ail Re"orms made su++estions "or the

moderni7ation o" /risons in6 and hen%e su++ested the settin+ u/ o" National *rison

#ommission. A%%ordin+ to this #ommittee there 5as a total ban on heinous /ra%ti%e

o" %lubbin+ to+ether 4uenile o""enders 5ith the hardened %riminals in /rison< and it

also su++ested the remoal o" the diar%hy o" /rison administration at a union and state

leel. usti%e =ulla #ommittee su++ested that the %lassi"i%ation o" /risoners in 4ail

should be rational as 5ell as s%ienti"i%.

• 'n 18,6 National I/ert %ommittee on omen /risoners 5as %onstituted. !his

#ommittee 5as headed by 4usti%e V R Krishna 'yer. 'n 16 this #ommittee

submitted its re/ort to the >nion Doernment. 't su++ested that6 in /oli%e "or%e the

number o" 5omen must be in%reased. !his #ommittee made re%ommendations to

mae a5are amon+ the 5omen in %ustody about their ri+hts and duties 5hile in

%ustody. 'n this ie56 the #ommittee su++ested that literate /risoners must be +ien an

easy readable teIt in 5hi%h the "undamental ri+hts o" /risoners are %ontained in.

So%io8le+al %ounsellin+ and le+al aid %am/s are established in the /risons to su//ort

5omen inmates.

• 'n 11836 the th Kerala Ge+islature stimate #ommittee6 made %ertain su++estions

5ith re+ard to the ri+hts o" /risoners in the state o" Kerala. !his #ommittee submitted

its re/ort on 2th anuary6 13. !his #ommittee had taen into %onsideration anob4e%tie o" im/risonment su""i%ient o//ortunities to be /roided to the /risoners as a

17


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re"ormatie moe. 't also made su++estions that the /rison labour %an be made more

/ro"itable i" %ertain ne%essary /roisions are made6 in a%%ordan%e 5ith the ability and

taste o" the /risoner. !he #ommittee also made re%ommendation to the +oernment to

enhan%e /unishment "or those /risoners 5ho iolates the %onditions o" /arole.

• 'n Kerala6 the !raan%ore8 #o%hin *risons A%t6 11 5as en"or%ed 5hi%h eItends to

the 5hole area o" the State o" !raan%ore #o%hin.

• 'n the =alabar ?istri%t in%ludin+ the State o" =adras6 the #entral A%t o" 1& 5as

ena%ted.

en thou+h the 4udi%iary 5as mu%h %o+ni7ant o" the /risoners- ri+hts in all the %ountries6 it

is im/ortant to note that the %ontribution o" the le+islation has not been substantial enou+h in

this /ro%ess. 'n this %onteIt6 the 4udi%iary has been in"luen%ed by the deliberations and

re%ommendations that hae been made in the @uman ri+hts #onentions. Various other

re%ommendations hae also been made by other *rison re"orm #ommittees and these hae

%onsiderably in"luen%ed the 'ndian 4udi%iary es/e%ially at the a/eI %ourt6 bein+ the Su/reme

#ourt. !his is %learly eident "rom the 4ud+ment that 5as deliered by the Su/reme #ourt in

relation to the /risoners- ri+hts. !hus by main+ a alue oriented inter/retation o" the

/roisions %ontained in the 'ndian #onstitution< the 4udi%iary has made many si+ni"i%ant

%han+es in the arena o" /risoners- ri+hts.

Conclusion%

Gi"e is not merely animal eIisten%e. !he souls behind the bars %annot be denied the same. 't

is +uaranteed to eery /erson by Arti%le 21 o" the #onstitution and not een the State has the

authority to iolate that Ri+ht. A /risoner6 be he a %oni%t6 does not %ease to be a human

bein+. !hey also hae all the ri+hts 5hi%h a "ree man has but under some restri%tions. ust

bein+ in /rison doesn-t de/rie them "rom their "undamental ri+hts. en 5hen lod+ed in the

4ail6 he %ontinues to en4oy all his Fundamental Ri+hts. En bein+ %oni%ted o" %rime and

de/ried o" their liberty in a%%ordan%e 5ith the /ro%edure established by la56 /risoners still

retain the residue o" %onstitutional ri+hts.

Su/reme #ourt has +one a lon+ 5ay "i+htin+ "or their ri+hts. @o5eer the "a%t remains that it

is the /oli%e and the /rison authorities 5ho need to be trained and oriented so that they tae

/risoner-s ri+hts seriously.

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!hus 5e see that there is no doubt that it is the demo%rati% le+itima%y 5hi%h %hara%teri7es our

era. Giberty and "reedom are the elements o" /risoner-s human ri+ht and demo%ra%y. 'n so "ar

as deelo/in+ %ountries are %on%erned it has to be obsered that must beliee in demo%ra%y

and human ri+hts o" /risoners.

&ibliogra!h'

&oo(s

1. Vi4ay K. Du/ta. *ers/e%ties on @uman Ri+hts. Vias *ublishin+ @ouse6 12. Asim *andya6rits O other #onstitutional remedies6 "irst dition(200)

3. Aa%harya ?ur+a ?as Basu6 'ntrodu%tion to the #onstitution o" 'ndia (200,)

&. =.*. ain6 'ndian #onstitution la56 Fi"th edition

. Narendar Kumar6#onstitutional la5 o" 'ndia ,th edition. (200)

. S.R. =yneni #onstitutional Ga5 ' 1st edition Asha Ga5 @ouse. (2011)

Articles%

1. Ri+hts o" *risoners and #oni%ts under the #riminal usti%e Administraton;6 by

@onourable usti%e !.S.Sia+nanam.

2. @uman Ri+hts o" *risoner-s under 'ndian #onstitution ?r. Kal/ana Bharad5a4

)eb sites referred%

1. 555.manu/atra.%om

2. 555.le+alseri%eindia.%om

3. 555.a%ademia.eu

&. 555.indiaanoon.%om

1"

http://www.manupatra.com/http://www.legalserviceindia.com/http://www.academia.eu/http://www.indiakanoon.com/http://www.legalserviceindia.com/http://www.academia.eu/http://www.indiakanoon.com/http://www.manupatra.com/


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Documents

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