Rights of Prisoners in India : A Socio Legal Study

Abstract

The concept of human rights is founded on the principle that every individual possesses inherent dignity and deserves equal protection under the law. This principle does not cease to exist when a person is imprisoned. A prisoner loses only those rights that are necessarily restricted by lawful incarceration, while all other constitutional and human rights continue to remain enforceable. The Indian Constitution, judicial pronouncements, and international human rights instruments collectively recognize that prisoners must be treated with humanity and dignity. Despite this legal framework, Indian prisons continue to face serious challenges such as overcrowding, prolonged detention of undertrial prisoners, custodial violence, inadequate healthcare facilities, poor sanitation, and lack of effective rehabilitation measures. These issues raise important concerns regarding the implementation of rights of prisoners and the functioning of the criminal justice system.

Keywords