The ruling of the Supreme Court in regard to the status of the prisoners in the backdrop of their caste has activated judicial and civil officials alike.

The Central jail here in Daltonganj was inspected by a high level team on Sunday January 5.The team was led by the principal district and sessions judge Niraj Kumar Srivastav. 

The team had deputy commissioner Shashi Ranjan, superintendent of police Reeshma Rameshan, city commissioner Md Jawed Husaain, district social welfare officer Neeta Chouhan, district civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar, executive engineer of the public works department building M Ram, secretary DLSA Arpit Srivastava and others. 

Never in the past there was such a combined team of officials led by the principal district and sessions judge as it was seen in the central jail on Sunday. 

The inspection was kept out of the bounds of the mediapersons. 

Secretary DLSA Arpit Srivastava said, "Inspection is inspection. It can't be publicised ahead of the inspection." However secretary DLSA said the reports will be submitted by Tuesday January 7. He declined to share even a single shred of the findings of the inspection.

The inspection was in view of the months back given a ruling by the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court had on Octobre 3, 2024, ruled that caste based segregation and discrimination among the prisoners is unconstitutional.

The Apex Court ruling came in the case of Sukanya Shantha versus union of India in this regard.The Supreme Court struck down rules in jail manuals that segregated prisoners by caste.

The Supreme Court ordered the union government and the states to revise prison manual rules. It also called for the deletion of the column if the prisoner's caste is mentioned in the column.

It further directed the union government and states to make changes to the Model Prison Manual 2016 and the Model Prison Consolidation of Services Act 2013.

Segregation, discrimination and distribution of work among the prisoners on the basis of their caste are oppressive to fundamental human dignity.

Colonial administrators had linked caste with the prison administration of labour, food and treatment of the prisons.

Any discrimination and distribution of work among the prisoners on the basis of their caste violate fundamental rights and equality principle as enshrined in Articles 14, 15, 17, 21 and 23 of the Constitution. 

The Supreme Court also directed the union government and states to re-define 'habitual offender' ascribing criminal tendencies to the whole tribe.