India Supreme Court Directs Prison Reforms

The India===Supreme Court of India has issued comprehensive directives to all states and Union territories to enhance the functioning and infrastructure of Open Correctional Institutions (OCIs) and open barracks. The court emphasized that prisons should serve as institutions of correction, upholding dignity, self-respect, and social reintegration for prisoners. Key directives include developing time-bound protocols for filling OCI vacancies, restructuring existing OCIs to accommodate female prisoners, and expanding correctional infrastructure. A high-powered committee, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Shripathi Ravindra Bhat, has been constituted to formulate common minimum standards for OCI governance and management. The court also mandated high courts to monitor compliance with these directives, ensuring the meaningful realization of constitutional rights for prisoners across India.