Supreme Court Rules Prisoners Not Entitled to Personalized or Luxury Food Items

The Supreme Court observed that prison facilities should align with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2016, but providing personalized or costly food items to prisoners with disabilities is not a fundamental right. The court emphasized that prisons are correctional institutions and not meant for luxurious comforts. The State's obligation is to ensure that all inmates, including those with disabilities, receive adequate and nutritious food.

A petitioner, an advocate with a disability, alleged custodial torture and lack of basic facilities in prison. The court upheld that the shortcomings in providing specialized food or medical intervention do not amount to human rights violations by the jail authorities. It stressed the need for prison reforms, especially for disability-sensitive infrastructure.

Prison facilities are often inaccessible to individuals with disabilities, violating their rights. The court highlighted the lack of specific legal frameworks for persons with disabilities in prisons. It called for better training and sensitivity among police and prison personnel to ensure dignity and accessibility for all prisoners.

Failure to meet these obligations causes suffering to disabled prisoners and goes against the State's constitutional duty as a custodian. The judgment emphasized the importance of upholding human dignity even during lawful incarceration.

According to the source: Live Law.