Himachal Pradesh amends Prison Manual 2021 to end caste-based work allotment and discrimination in jails
The Himachal Pradesh government said on 22 February 2025 that it had amended all caste-based provisions of the HP Prison Manual 2021 to end caste-based discrimination and work allotment among prisoners.
Summary
On 22 February 2025 the Himachal Pradesh government announced that, on the direction of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, it had amended all caste-based provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Prison Manual 2021 through the Himachal Pradesh Prison Manual Second Amendment, 2025. New paragraph 5.66 bars any discrimination, classification or segregation of prisoners on the basis of caste, paragraph 5.67 bars caste-based allotment of duties or work, and paragraph 5.68 bars engaging prisoners in manual scavenging, sewer maintenance or septic tank cleaning. An old clause on employing paid sweepers was deleted, and jail registers will no longer record the caste, community or religion of inmates. 'Prisons' is a State subject under the Constitution.
Key facts
- Date
- 22 February 2025
- Instrument
- Himachal Pradesh Prison Manual Second Amendment, 2025
- Para 5.66
- No caste-based discrimination, classification or segregation
- Para 5.67
- No caste-based allotment of work
- Para 5.68
- No manual scavenging, sewer or septic tank cleaning by prisoners
- Records
- Caste, community, religion no longer recorded
- Constitutional list
- Prisons: State List (Entry 4, List II)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which state amended its Prison Manual 2021 in February 2025 to end caste-based work allotment among prisoners?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh amended all caste-based provisions of its Prison Manual 2021 through the Second Amendment, 2025.
Under the new paragraph 5.68 of the Himachal Pradesh Prison Manual, prisoners cannot be engaged in:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Manual scavenging, sewer maintenance and septic tank cleaning
Paragraph 5.68 bars engaging prisoners in manual scavenging, sewer system maintenance and septic tank cleaning.
Consider the following statements: 1. 'Prisons' is a subject in the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. 2. Himachal Pradesh made its February 2025 changes through the Himachal Pradesh Prison Manual Second Amendment, 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Entry 4 of List II (State List) covers prisons, reformatories and persons detained therein, and Himachal Pradesh notified the changes through the Prison Manual Second Amendment, 2025, so both statements are correct.