L. Muruganantham Vs State Of Tamil Nadu 2025 INSC 844 - Prisoners With Disability - Rights - Directions Issued
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Constitution of India - Article 14,21 - Criminal Justice - Prisoners With Disability - Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 - Inaccessibility and denial of basic care to prisoners with disabilites are not mere administrative lapses; they amount to violations of fundamental rights enshrined under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India. They also breach provisions of the RPwD Act, 2016 – specifically Sections 6, 25, and 38 – which mandate the State to ensure healthcare and non-discriminatory treatment for persons with disabilities, including those in custody. Furthermore, under Article 15 of the UNCRPD, to which India is a signatory, any cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of disabled persons in detention is strictly prohibited. (Para 27) The State has a constitutional and moral obligation to uphold the rights of prisoners with disabilities. This includes not only ensuring non-discriminatory treatment but also enabling their effective rehabilitation and reintegration into society. This Court emphasizes that reasonable accommodations are not optional, but integral to any humane and just carceral system. A systemic transformation is urgently required – one grounded in compassion, accountability, and a firm constitutional commitment to dignity and equality. The disabilities of incarcerated individuals must not become a basis for further deprivation or suffering; rather, the prison system must evolve to affirm their rights and provide the care necessary for rehabilitation- Various directions issued. (Para 34,35)