New Delhi, Aug. 27 -- Delhi has removed provisions that allowed certain women prisoners, including those accused or convicted under anti-trafficking laws, to be housed separately from other female inmates, following concerns raised in a Supreme Court-monitored exercise on discriminatory prison practices.
The changes were communicated to the court-appointed amicus curiae, senior advocate S Muralidhar, during consultations with states and Union territories on provisions in prison laws and jail manuals that may result in unequal treatment of inmates.
The Delhi government has withdrawn three provisions - Rule 1434(III) and Rule 92(25) of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, and Section 28(2) of the Delhi Prisons Act, 2000.
One of the provisions specifically permitted the separation of sex workers and brothel-keepers from other women prisoners. Another allowed segregation of inmates categorised as having "known bad character".
The provision in the Delhi Prisons Act required women facing charges or convictions under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, or offences described as involving "grave moral depravity", to be kept apart from other female prisoners.
The deletions come amid the Supreme Court's continuing examination of discriminatory practices in prisons. In his latest report submitted on July 30, Muralidhar noted that several prison manuals still contained provisions for segregating women labelled as prostitutes, brothel-keepers or procuresses.
The report said such rules appeared to rely on assumptions about the supposed influence of these prisoners on others and could reinforce stigma.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.