Carceral Culture
- SC’s recent directions mandate disability-related facilities in prisons, triggered by cases like G.N. Saibaba and Stan Swamy, who were denied essential accommodations despite severe physical disabilities.
- The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 obligates governments to ensure accessible infrastructure and equal dignity in all institutions, including prisons. However, implementation gaps persist as many State prison manuals still assume prisoners are physically able.
- The Court also held caste-based segregation in prisons unconstitutional, noting intersections of caste, disability and structural discrimination.
- Colonial-era prison rules and poor oversight have normalised neglect, where the suffering of disabled and marginalised prisoners is treated as part of punishment rather than a violation of rights.
- The NCRB data shows significant numbers of inmates with mental illness, yet prisons lack systems for disability recognition, accommodation, and sanitation assistance.
- The editorial argues that the Centre and States must amend prison manuals to specify duties regarding disability screening, accessible facilities, and support mechanisms—requiring higher funding and a shift away from “carceral austerity.”
- It stresses the need for independent inspections and routine publication of casteand disability-disaggregated data to ensure transparency and enforce rights.
