PRISONERS’ RIGHTS AND PRISON REFORMS IN INDIA

The rights of prisoners are not a concession to wrongdoers; they are a reflection of the State’s own commitment to the rule of law. When the State incarcerates, it assumes a duty of care, a duty that Article 21 demands be taken seriously. India’s prison reform journey is ongoing and progress has been made. But the gap between constitutional promise and carceral reality remains wide. Bridging that gap is not merely a legal obligation; it is a moral one.