Supreme Court orders States to set up district-wise prison oversight boards in four weeks
The Supreme Court of India has ordered all states and Union Territories to establish district-wise prison oversight boards within four weeks. This move aims to ensure accountability and improve living conditions for inmates, following previous rulings against caste-based discrimination in prisons.
Why it matters
This mandate is a significant step toward judicial oversight of the correctional system and protecting the human rights of incarcerated individuals.
The Supreme Court on Thursday (July 30, 2026) directed all States and Union Territories to constitute a board of visitors for prisons in every district, as required under the Model Prison Manual, 2016, within four weeks. The oversight body, comprising official and non-official members, conducts regular inspections of prisons, monitors the welfare of inmates and reviews living conditions in correctional facilities.
A Bench headed by Justice J.B. Pardiwala passed the direction while hearing a suo motu case initiated to address discrimination inside prisons following the apex court’s judgment in October last year directing the removal of provisions and practices in prison manuals that perpetuated caste discrimination in the allocation of prison work and other aspects of prison administration.
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