The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has prepared the ‘Model Prisons Act 2023’.
It will replace a British-era law to overhaul the prison administration that will focus on the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.
The Prisons Act of 1894 is a pre-independence era Act and is almost 130-years-old.
Two other related laws — The Prisoners Act, 1900 and The Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950 are also decades-old.
Prisons in the country and ‘persons detained therein’ are a state subject in India.
State governments and Union Territory Administrations by adopting this act in their jurisdictions with such modifications as they may consider necessary.