Supreme Court’s verdict on rampant caste discrimination in Indian jails has again brought to the fore the cruel reality of caste and the all-pervasive nature of discrimination based on birth. In prisons, inmates from SC, ST and OBC groups are forced to perform menial labour like cleaning of toilets while those from so-called upper castes were taken in for ‘respectable’ labours like working in the kitchen. SC has pronounced this practice as unconstitutional and has ordered to delete the column of caste in prison registers, which is a late but welcome step.
While welcoming the judgement, the CPI urges all fellow-travellers on the path of social-justice to ensure that SC directives are implemented in all states in letter and spirit. The horrendous face of caste discrimination is not limited to registers, but it is all encompassing for those who are condemned to live at the bottom of caste hierarchy. Thus, our struggle against caste discrimination must tackle all heads of the hydra-headed monster. Dr. Ambedkar’s adage that “nothing can emancipate the outcaste except the destruction of the caste system” should be our guide.
At the same time, the SC judgement is also an opportunity to take a look at the condition of the police, prison and judicial system. The CPI has always been a strong advocate of prison, police and judicial reforms. In the tenure of CPI leader Comrade Indrajit Gupta as Home Minister, he tried to make the country’s penal justice system humane and in tune with democratic norms. We should further strive for a comprehensive reform of the penal justice system and leave no space for discrimination.
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