Uttarakhand: The Uttarakhand High Court has issued a significant order directing the State Government to examine and decide on the issue of compensating prisoners for their labor in jails.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal passed the order while hearing two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to prisoners’ rights.
The court noted that despite a 26-year-old Supreme Court judgment on the matter, no decision has been taken to compensate prisoners for their labor in jails. The bench observed, “As of today, in jails, various items are being prepared and sold in the open market. In Sitarganj jail, the inmates are working as laborers on the farm, which is about 450 acres, and still, they are not being paid for the hard work they do.”
Referring to the Supreme Court’s 1998 judgment in State of Gujarat & Another vs. Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat, the court highlighted, “The Hon’ble Supreme Court held that they [the prisoners] were entitled to equitable wages.”
The court directed the State to examine this issue in light of the Supreme Court judgment and to take a decision. It stated, “The State is directed to examine this issue keeping in view the abovesaid judgment, and then take a decision.”
Expressing concern over the delay in implementing the Supreme Court’s directive, the court observed, “The abovesaid judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court was given 26 years ago, and to date, no decision to compensate the prisoners for the labor work done by them in jail has been taken.”
The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 3, 2024.
In conclusion, while directing the State to decide on compensating prisoners for their labor, the court emphasized the long-standing nature of this issue and the need for a decision in light of the Supreme Court’s judgment on equitable wages for prisoners.
