Nyaya Over Danda: An Analysis of the Legal and Constitutional Rights of Prisoners under the Prisons Act, 1894 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm2026.v06.n01.005Keywords:
Nyaya Over Danda, Constitutional Rights, Prisons Act, 1894Abstract
Crime is committed everywhere in the world so, punishment for criminal is a recognized tool to remove the crime from the society. However, the penologist approach to punishment has also drastically changed due to the shifting patterns of contemporary society from the Deterrent approach to Reformative and Rehabilitation approach because as a matter of fact, no one is criminal by birth, it is the circumstances which compel a person to do an unlawful act. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 which was earlier named as The Indian Penal Code, 1860 has also taken a step towards the reformative approach through introduction of ‘Community Service’ as a punishment which aimed to achieving ‘Nyaya’ not ‘Danda’ in the society. This research paper attempts to highlights the historical background of Correctional Institutions in India and the rights of inmates with the help of various Legal and Constitutional provisions and Judicial Pronouncements for the welfare and protection of prisoners right.
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The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023., Section 482(6) Corresponds to the Section 437(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
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The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023., Section 56 Corresponds to the Section 55A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023., Section 58 Corresponds to the Section 57 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023., Section 78 Corresponds to the Section 76 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023., Section 142(1) Corresponds to the Section 123 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
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