tition No 4305 of 1978
Under Article 32 of the Constitution
N M Ghatate and section V Deshpande
for the Petitioner Soli J Sorabjee Addl
General and Girish Chandra for the Respondent
The order of the Court was delivered by KRISHNA IYER J A litigation with a social dimension even in a blinkered adversary system serves a larger cause than the limited lis before the court
This petition with non specific reliefs is One such
Sobraj the petitioner by the frequency of his forensic com plaints against incarceratory torture and Dr Ghatate his counsel by the piquancy of his hortative advocacy of freedom behind bars
have sought to convert the judicial process from a constitutional sentinel of prison justice which emphatically it is into a meticulous auditor general of jail cells which pejoratively it is not although on occasions thin partition do their bounds divide
Often as here the fountain of confusion in penitentiary jurisprudence is forgetfulness of fundamentals
Once the legal basics are stated Sobraj with his disingenuous finical grievances will be out of court
What are the governing principles decisionally set down by this court in Batra and Sobraj Has the court jurisdiction to decide prisoners  charges of violation of rights  If it has can it meddle with the prison administration and its problems of security and discipline from an innocent  distance  Put tersely both the hands off
doctrine and the take over  theory have been rebuffed as untenable extremes and a middle round has been found of intervening when constitutional rights or statutory prescriptions are transgressed to the injury of the prisoner and declining where lesser matters of institutional order and man management though irksome to some are alone involved
Contemporary profusion of prison torture reports makes it necessary to drive home the obvious to shake prison top brass from the callous complacency of unaccountable autonomy within that walled off world of human held incommunicado
Whenever fundamental rights are flouted or legislative protection ignored to any prisoner s prejudice this Court s writ will run breaking through stone walls and iron bars to right the wrong and restore the rule of law
Then the 515 parrot cry of discipline will not deter of security will not scare of discretion will not dissuade the judicial process
For if courts cave in when great rights are gouged within the sound proof sight proof precincts of prison houses where often dissenters and minorities are caged Bastilles will be re enacted
When law and tyranny begins and history whispers iron has never been the answer to the rights of men
Therefore we affirm that imprisonment does not spell farewell to fundamental rights although by a realistic re appraisal courts will refuse to recognise the full panoply of Part III enjoyed by a citizen
This proposition was not contested by the learned Additional Solicitor General Sri Soli Sorabjee
Nor does its soundness depend for us upon the Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution
article 21 read with article 191 d and 5 is capable of wider application than the imperial mischief which gave its birth and must draw Its meaning from the evolving standards of decency and dignity that mark the progress of a mature society as Batra and Sobraj have underscored and the American judges have highlighted
Fair procedure is the soul of article 21 reasonableness of the restriction is the essence of article 19S and sweeping discretion degenerating into arbitrary discrimination is anathema for article 14
Constitutional kurana is thus injected into incarceratory strategy to produce prison justice
And as an annotation of article 21 this Court has adopted in Kharak Singh s caseI that expanded connotation of life  given by Field J which we quote as reminder Something more than mere animal existence
the inhibition against its deprivation extends to all those limbs and faculties by which life is enjoyed
The provision equally prohibits the mutilation of the body by the amputation of an arm or leg or the putting out of an eye or the destruction of any other organ of the body through which the soul communicates with the outer world
The next axiom of prison justice is the court s continuing duty and authority to ensure that the judicial warrant which deprives a person of his life or liberty is not exceeded subverted or stultified lt is a sort of solemn covenant running with the power to sentence
The US Courts have intensified their oversight of State penal facilities reflecting a heightened concern with the extent to which the ills that plague so called correctional institutions violate basic rights
points out Edward section Crowin
Although
the learned author and
1 1964 I SCR 357
2 Supplement to Edward section Corwin s The constitution  and What it means Today 1976 Edn
p 245
516 indeed the decisions show that reliance is placed on the Eighth Amendment as we have earlier pointed out
the same
sensitized attention and protective process emanate from the humane provisions of Part III of our Constitution
Viewed differently supposing a court sentences a person to simple imprisonment or assigns him B  class treatment and the jail authorities unwittingly or vindictively put him under rigorous imprisonment or subject him to C  class treatment does it not show contempt of the court s authority and deprivation of liberty beyond a degree validated by the court warrant  Likewise where a prisoner is subjected to brutality exploiting the fact that he is helplessly within the custody of the Jail Administration does it not deprive the prisoner of his life and liberty beyond the prescribed limits set by the court  Yet again where conditions within a prison are such that inmates incarcerated therein will inevitably and necessarily become more sociapathic than they were prior to the sentence is not the court  punitive purpose charged with healing hope stultified by the prison authorities  of course where a prison practice or internal instruction places harsh restrictions on jail life breaching guaranteed rights
the court directly comes in
Every prison sentence is a conditioned deprivation of life and liberty with civilised norms built in and unlimited trauma interdicted
In this sense judicial policing of prison practices is implied in the sentencing power
The Criminal judiciary have thus a duty to guardian their sentences and visit prisons hen necessarily
Many of them do not know or exercise this obligation
Another jurisdictional facet may be touched upon in view of the widely worded relief sought to treat Sobraj in a human and dignified manner keeping in view the adverse effect of his confinement upon his mental and physical conditions 
The penological goals which may be regarded as reasonable justification For restricting the right to move freely within the confines of a penitentiary are now well settled
And if prisoners have title to Article 19 21 and 14 rights subject to the limitation we have indicated there must be some correlation between deprivation of freedom and the legitimate functions of a correctional system
It is now well settled as a stream of rulings of courts proves that deterrence both specific and general rehabilitation and institutional security are vital considerations
Compassion wherever possible and cruelty only where inevitable is the art of correctional confinement
When prison policy advances such a valid goal the court will not intervene officiously
517 This overall attitude was incorporated as a standard by the American National Advisory Commission on Crimine Justice Standards and Goals  
A rehabilitative purpose is or ought to be implicit in every sentence of an offender unless ordered otherwise by the sentencing court  l The US Supreme Court summed up In a series of decisions this court has held that even though the governmental purpose be legitimate anti substantial that purpose cannot be pursued by means that broadly stifle fundamental personal liberties when the and can by more narrowly achieved
The breadth of legislative abridgment must be viewed in the light of less drastic means for achieving the same basic purpose  But when an inmate is cruelly restricted in a manner which supports no such relevant purpose the restriction becomes unreasonable and arbitrary and unconstitutionality is the consequence
Traumatic  futility is obnoxious to pragmatic legality
Social defence is the raison of the penal code and bears upon judicial control over prison administration
If a whole atmosphere of constant fear of violence frequent torture and denial of opportunity to improve oneself is created or if medical facilities and basic elements of care arid comfort necessary to sustain life are refused then also the humane jurisdiction of the court will become operational based on article 19 
Other forms of brutal unreasonableness and anti rehabilitative attitude violative of constitutionality may be thought of in n penal system but we wish to lay down only a broad guideline that where policies
with a Zoological touch  which do not serve valid penal objectives are pursued in penitentiaries so as to inflict conditions so unreasonable as to frustrate the ability of inmates to engage in rehabilitations
the court is not helpless
However as prison system may make rational distinctions in making assignments to inmates of vocational
educational Land work opportunities available but it is constitutionally impermissible to do sc without as functional classification system
The mere fact that a prisoner is poor or rich high born or ill bred is certainly irrational as a differential ill a secular socialist high republic 
Since the petitioner charges the jail staff with barbaric and inhuman treatment in prison we are called upon to delineate the broad boundaries of judicial jurisdiction vis a vis prison administration and prisoner s rights
I To solve The age old Problem of crime Roger Lanphear J D p 19 2 Ibid pr 21 518 The court is reluctant to intervene in the day to day operation of the State penal system but undue harshness and avoidable tantrums under the guise of discipline and security gain no immunity from court writs
The reason is prisoners retain all rights enjoyed by free citizens except those lost necessarily as an incident of confinement
Moreover the rights enjoyed by prisoners under Articles 14 19 and 21 though limited are not static and will rise to human heights when challenging situations arise
Cooper1 and Menaka Gandhi2 have thus compulsive consequence benignant to prisoners
The petitioner in the present case has contended that barbaric and inhuman treatment have been hurled at him and that intentional discrimination has been his lot throughout
These allegations invited us to examine the limits and purpose of judicial jurisdiction but we have to apply the principles so laid down to the facts of the present case
Starry abstractions do not make sense except in the context of concrete facts
That is why we agree with the propositions Of law urged by Dr Ghatate but disagree with the distress and discrimination his client wails about
True confrontedm with cruel conditions of confinement the court has an expanded role
True the light to life is more than mere animal existence or vegetable subsistence3 True the worth of the human person and dignity and divinity of every individual inform articles 19 and 21 even in a prison setting
True constitutional provisions and municipal laws must interpreted in the light of the normative laws of nations wherever possible and a prisoner does not forfeit his Part lII rights
But that are the facts here  Charles Sobraj is no longer an under trial
having to serve two sentence of long imprisonment
He is given all the amenities of 1 B  class prisoner
He goes on hunger strike but medical men take care of him
Ward I where he is lodged gives him the facilities of wards XIll and XIV where he wants to he moved
He has record of one escape and one attempt at suicide and Interpol reports of many crimes abroad
There are several cases pending in India against him
Even so the barbarity of bat fetters inflicted on him lay a qualmless jail staff was abandoned under orders of this Court
he seeks the other extreme of of coddling as if a jail were a country club or good hotel
Give me finer foreigners as companions
he demands
Don t keep convict cooks and warders as 1 1971 l SCR Sl2
2 1978 l SCR 248 3 Mohammed Giasuddin vs State of Andhra Pradeh
 519 jailmated in my cell he rails
Remove me from a high security ward like Ward I to a more relaxed ward like Ward 14 or 13 he solicits
These delicate and genteel requests from a prisoner with his record and potential were turned down by the Superintendent and the reasons for such rejection based on security rules and allergy of other inmates to be his risky fellow inmates have been stated on oath
We cannot be critical of the Administration if it makes a classification between dangerous prisoners and ordinary prisoners
In the present case the Superintendent swears and it is undisputed that the petitioner is not under solitary confinement
We further aver that a distinction between under trials and convicts is reasonable and the petitioner is now a convict
In fact lazy relaxation on security is a professional risk inside a prison
The court must not rush in where the jailor fears to tread
While the country may not make the prison boss the sole sadistic arbiter of incarcerated humans the community may be in no mood to hand over central prisons to be run by courts
Each instrumentality must sanction within its province
We have no hesitation to hold that while Sobraj has done litigative service for prison reform he has signally failed to substantiate any legal injury
We therefore dismiss the writ petition making it clear that strictly speaking the petitioner being a foreigner cannot claim rights under article 19 but we have discussed at some length the import of Articles 14 19 and 21 because they are interlaced and in any case apply to Indian citizens
 Petition dismissed
SR Petition dismisses


Summary:
The petitioner a convict having to serve two sentences of long imprisonment plus record of one escape and one attempt of suicide and interpol
reports of many crimes abroad in addition to several cases pending in India against him through this writ petition contended that barbarity and inhuman treatment have been hurled at him and that intentional discrimination has been his lot throughout and therefore sought the assistance or this Court for directing the jail authorities to give him finer foreigner as companions and to remove him from a high security ward like Ward l to a more relaxed ward be invoking the provisions of Articles 14 19 and 21 of the Constitution
Dismissing the Writ Petition the Court  HELD 1 Imprisonment does not spell farewell to fundamental rights although by a realistic re appraisal Courts will refuse to recognise the full panoply of Part lII of the Constitution enjoyed by a free citizen
Whenever fundamental rights are flouted or legislative protection ignored to any prisoner s prejudice this Court s writ will run breaking through stone walls and iron bars to right the wrong and restore the rule of law
Then the parrot cry of discipline thrill not deter of security will not scare of discretion will not dissuade the judical process
For if courts cave in  when great rights and sound within the sound proof sight proof precincts of prison houses where often disenters and minorities are caged Bastilles will be re enacted
When law ends tyranny begins and history whispers iron has never ben the answer to the rights of men514 H 515 A Bl 2 article 21 of the Constitution read with article 191d and 5 is capable of wider application than the imperial mischief which give its birth and must draw its meaning from the evolving standards of decency and dignity that mark the progress of a mature society
Fair procedure is the soul of article 21 reasonableness of the restriction is the essence of article 195 and sweeping discretion degenerating into arbitrary discrimination is anthema for article 14
Constitutional Karuna is thus injected into incarceratory strategy to produce prison justice
 515 CD Sunil Batra vs Delhi Admn
 ors
and Charles Gurumukh Sobraj
State of Delhi 1979 I SCR 392 referred to 513 Kharak Singh vs State of UP  applied
3 Prison justice implies Court s continuing duty and authority to ensure that the judicial warrant which deprives a person of his life or liberty is not exceeded subverted or stultified
It is a sort of solemn covenant running with the power to sentence
Where a prison practice or internal instruction places harsh restrictions on jail life breaching guaranteed rights the Court directly comes in
Every prison sentence is a conditioned deprivation of life auld liberty
with civilized norms built in and unlimited trauma interdicted
In this sense judicial policy of prison practices is implied in the sentencing power
The Criminal judiciary have thus a duty to guardian their sentences and visit prisons when necessary
The penological goals which may be regarded as reasonable justification for restricting the right to move freely within the confines of a penitentiary are now well settled
And if prisoners have title to Articles 19 21 and 14 rights subject to the limitations there must be some correlation between depriviation of comfort and legitimate function of a correctional system
515 G 516 E F G 4  Deterrence both specific and general rehabilitation and institutional security are vital considerations
Compassion wherever possible and cruelty only where inevitable is the art of correctional confinement
When prison policy advances such a valid goal the Court will not intervene officiously
But when an inmate is cruelly restricted in a manner which supports no such relevant purpose the restriction becomes unreasonable and arbitrary and unconstitutionality is the consequence
Traumatic futility is obnoxious to pragmatic legality
Social defence is the raison d etre of the penal code and bears upon judicial control over prison administration
If a whole atmosphere of constant fear of violence frequent torture and denial of opportunity to improve oneself is created or if medical facilities and basic elements of care and comfort necessary to sustain life are refused then also the humane jurisdiction of the Court will become operational based on article 19
516 G H 517 D E 5 Prisoners retain all rights enjoyed by free citizens except those lost necessarily as an incident of confinement
Rights enjoyed by prisoners under Arts 14 19 and 21 though limited are not static and will rise to human heights when challenging situations arise
518 A B R C Cooper vs Union of India  Menaka Gandhi vs F Union of India  Anr  Mohammad Giasuddin vs State of Andhra pradesh  referred to
6 However a prison system may make rational distinctions in making assignments to inmates of vocational educational and work opportunities available but it is constitutionally impermissible to do so without a functional classification system
Courts cannot be critical of the administration if it makes a classification between dangerous prisoners and ordinary prisoners
A distinction between the under trials and convicts is reasonable
In fact lazy relaxation on security is a professional risk inside a prison
517 F G 519 B Cl The petitioner being a foreigner cannot claim rights under article 19
Moreover he is now a convict and is not in solitary confinement
519 D OBSERVATlON The Court must not rush in where the jailor fears to tread
While the country may not make the prison boss the sole sadistic arbiter of incarcerated 514 human the community may be in no mood to handover central prisons to be run by Courts Each instrumentality must function within its province