Kochi: The Kerala High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the state government’s decision to increase wages for prison inmates. The court observed that the wage hike is a policy decision of the government and that there are no sufficient grounds for judicial interference. The bench headed by the Chief Justice noted that the revision is not merely a financial matter but also a step aimed at ensuring the dignity and rehabilitation of prisoners, as submitted by the state government.
The wage revision, implemented after a gap of seven years, came into effect following a government order issued on January 15. Under the revised rates, inmates will receive a daily wage of ₹620 for skilled work, ₹560 for semi-skilled work, and ₹530 for unskilled work, compared to the earlier rates of ₹152, ₹127, and ₹63 respectively. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier stated that providing fair wages to prisoners is a constitutional principle. The court also took note of the Model Prison Manual, 2016, which recommends revising inmate wages once every three years.
