Stop classifying prisoners: Delhi high court

The Delhi high court on Wednesday directed the state government to abolish the system of classifying prisoners on the basis of social and educational status. It also said the Justice Duggal Committee recommendations on prison reforms should be implemented within one month.

Justcie Arun Kumar gave the ruling after hearing a petition filed by the All India Lawyers' Forum for Civil Liberties.

Central government counsel Meera Bhatia and Delhi government's Adarsh K Goel did not oppose the petitioner's contention.

Counsel for the petitioner O P Saxena pointed out that the Justice Duggal Committee report recommending the abolition of the present system of prison classification, submitted on April 2, is yet to be implemented.

The AILFCL filed a public interest litigation in 1994 challenging the century-old Punjab prison manual allowing classification of prisoners on the social, economic and educational basis.

UNI