Uniformity is integral to prison reform

The Karnataka State Prisons and Correctional Services Department’s decision to ban cooked food from private sources for inmates is the right step towards ensuring institutional discipline, equality, and dismantling entrenched VIP culture. According to the government, major facilities, including the Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara, hold a four-star certification from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and are designated ‘eat right campuses’ signifying adherence to prescribed standards of hygiene, safety, and nutrition. This effectively eliminates the justification for home food. Notably, the ban is not limited to food alone; strict caps on private clothing and bedding further strip away visible markers of social status. The ban also addresses operational risks. Cooked food and other materials from outside have long served as conduits for smuggling drugs, mobile phones, and weapons, while placing a heavy inspection burden on understaffed prisons. While access to special facilities creates inequality inside prison walls, they also lead to accountability grey zones in cases of food poisoning or illness. This holistic approach ensures that wealth and influence find no expression, whether on the plate or in the cell.

However, these measures are not without legitimate concerns. Prison dinners are typically served early – around 5.30 pm – creating a nearly 14-hour gap until breakfast, and the onus is on the department to ensure meal timings are as humane as their nutritional content. Moreover, certification alone cannot be the end of the story. Since FSSAI does not monitor kitchens continuously, senior officers must conduct periodic inspections to ensure standards are maintained.

For Karnataka’s prisons to truly transform, these administrative steps must be followed by deeper structural reforms. Addressing the Hithendra Committee’s findings on persistent internal corruption is essential, as is tackling the overcrowding that directly impacts the prisoners’ hygiene and health. Caste-based discrimination, where those from oppressed communities are assigned menial or degrading tasks, as acknowledged by the Supreme Court, must be eradicated. With a 40% staff vacancy rate, prisons lack the manpower necessary for thorough security checks, often resulting in administrative shortcuts. While broader human rights concerns persist, NIMHANS has flagged the urgent need for specialised mental health interventions. By enforcing uniformity, Karnataka has sent a message that prisons are spaces of correction, not privilege; however, the journey towards a truly humane and constitutional correctional system remains a distant goal.