Indian jails and their administration are state matters included in point 4 of the List of States of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The administration and administration of prisons falls exclusively within the scope of state governments and is governed by the Prisons Act of 1900 and the penitentiary manuals of the respective state governments. Therefore, states have the primary role, responsibility, and authority to change existing prison laws, rules, and regulations. The Central Government provides assistance to States to improve security in prisons, repair and rehabilitation of prisons, medical facilities, development of public schools, facilities for female offenders, vocational training, modernization of industries penitentiaries, for the creation of high security enclosures.
The Supreme Court of India, in its judgements on various aspects of prison administration, has established three general principles relating to imprisonment and custody. First, a person in prison does not become a non-person. Second, a person in prison is entitled to all human rights within the limitations of the prison. Finally, there is no justification for aggravating the suffering already inherent in the process of incarceration.