Reviewed case brief

Sunil Batra v. Delhi Administration

AIR 1980 SC 1579

The landmark prisoners' rights decision establishing that fundamental rights survive incarceration and that prison conditions must meet Art. 21 standards.

prisoners-rightsarticle-21prison-reformtorturedignitysem-5
Court
Supreme Court of India
Year
1980
Subjects
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
Reviewed
2026-06-29

Rule established

Prisoners retain fundamental rights under Art. 21. Rights do not stop at prison gates. Torture, bar fetters, and inhuman conditions are prohibited.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        AIR

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.