Court Rejects Plea Seeking To Repeal Laws On Solitary Confinement In Jails

Solitary confinement is a form of punishment for violating jail rules or directions where a prisoner is kept in isolation from any human contact except for jail staff.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking directions to Parliament to repeal the penal law provisions enabling the jail authorities to keep prisoners in solitary confinement.

"How can we direct Parliament to repeal a provision?" a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra wondered.

The bench said a petition can question alleged discrimination and violations of fundamental rights of prisoners but lawmakers cannot be directed to repeal laws.