Sylvia Mathews, School of Law, CHRIST (Deemed to be University)
ABSTRACT
The Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, which has formed the cornerstone of the nation's criminal law, is the main source of the system's profound ties to colonial-era legal systems. But this framework's inability to adjust to contemporary human rights norms has drawn increasing criticism. Prison overcrowding, disproportionate sentencing, and a dearth of restorative justice remain serious obstacles that exacerbate the state of human rights in Indian jails. The recent implementation of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) tries to solve some of these difficulties by bringing revisions to modernize sentencing criteria and promote rehabilitative initiatives. In spite of these endeavours, the criminal justice system in India continues to face pervasive problems like uneven sentencing, overcrowding in prisons, and cruel treatment of inmates. One cannot overestimate the significance of prisoner rights and sentencing changes because they are closely related to the state's duty to protect the dignity and fundamental human rights of those who are detained. Since that marginalised people are disproportionately impacted by the present system and are more likely to experience harsher treatment and wrongful incarceration, these improvements are especially important. Therefore, India needs to address the deeper, structural problems that underpin inequality within its criminal justice system in addition to reforming its sentencing laws in order to bring its system into compliance with international human rights norms and build a more just one.
Keywords: Criminal Justice System, Human Rights, Overcrowded Prison, Prisoner Rights, Sentencing Reforms
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