A prison crisis

India’s prisons are in crisis. They resemble overcrowded warehouses for the forgotten. The India Justice Report 2025 shows the scale of the problem. As of 2022, 5.73 lakh inmates were lodged in facilities built for 4.36 lakh. That’s a 131 per cent occupancy rate. By 2030, the prison population could reach 6.8 lakh — far beyond the projected capacity of 5.15 lakh. The crisis goes deeper than space. It’s a human rights emergency. There are just 25 psychologists for the entire prison population. Mental illness among inmates has more than doubled since 2012. Most of those suffering are undertrials — people not yet convicted. They wait years for justice because of court delays. The medical crisis is equally grim. There is a 43 per cent vacancy in medical officer posts across prisons. Delhi has only one doctor per 206 inmates. Without proper care, prisoners suffer in silence — both mentally and physically.

This neglect is not new. The Supreme Court has often called for long-term prison planning. But state action remains slow and indifferent. Staff shortages are severe. Correctional vacancies reach 60 per cent in some regions. Delhi’s jails, for example, have operated at over 250 per cent capacity. Marginalised communities — Dalits, tribals and Muslims — are overrepresented behind bars. This reflects deep-rooted inequities in the justice system.

Addressing this crisis needs political will. Fast-track courts and alternative dispute resolution can reduce undertrial numbers. Infrastructure investment must match rising inmate numbers. More doctors, psychologists and staff are urgently needed. Legal aid access must improve for the poor. Prisons should not be sites of prolonged punishment. They must become centres of reform. Treating inmates with dignity and care reflects the strength of our democracy. It is not a favour — it is a constitutional duty.

Editorials