Question map
Consider the following statements : Statement-I : In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day administration of prisons. Statement-II : In India, prisons are governed by the Prisons Act, 1894 which expressly kept the subject of prisons in the control of Provincial Governments. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1. Both statements are correct, and Statement-II provides the historical and legal foundation for Statement-I.
Statement-I is correct: Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, 'Prisons' and 'persons detained therein' fall under Entry 4 of the State List. Consequently, State Governments possess the exclusive power to manage prisons and formulate their own Prison Manuals, rules, and regulations for daily administration.
Statement-II is correct: The Prisons Act of 1894 is the primary central legislation governing management in India. Historically, this Act placed prisons under the control of Provincial Governments. This legal framework was later carried forward into the constitutional era, reinforcing the decentralization of prison administration.
Connection: Statement-II explains the legal origin of the administrative autonomy mentioned in Statement-I. Since the 1894 Act vested control in Provincial (now State) Governments, it directly explains why states today manage prisons with their own specific rules.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question is a classic 'Static-Current Hybrid'. The trigger was the 'Model Prisons Act, 2023' news replacing the colonial law. The strategy is simple: When a major colonial law is in the news for repeal/amendment, you must know the *original* law's jurisdiction and basic structure.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Are prisons in India managed by State Governments rather than by the central government?
- Statement 2: Do State Governments in India have their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day administration of prisons in their states?
- Statement 3: Does the Prisons Act, 1894 govern the law relating to prisons in India?
- Statement 4: Does the Prisons Act, 1894 expressly place control of prisons with Provincial Governments (provincial/state authorities)?
- Explicitly locates prisons under Entry 4, List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule, indicating state-level legislative competence.
- States and Union Territories have their own legislative frameworks for operating correctional institutions, implying management lies with them.
- Describes the Central Government's role as issuing model laws and guidance (MPM 2016, MPA 2023) to guide the States, implying that actual implementation/management is by States.
- Framing these as 'steps by the Central Government to guide the States' shows the central government provides direction rather than direct management.
- Notes a central-drafted jail manual was 'accepted by the Central government and circulated to State governments', indicating the centre issues guidance while States are the recipients/implementers.
- Reference to Supreme Court direction to prepare a uniform manual but circulation to States implies management and action rest with State governments.
Explains that the federation has separate Central Services and State Services, with many functions administered by state governments.
A student could check whether prison administration is listed among State Services or appears in the Constitution's State List to infer state management.
Reiterates the pattern that many public functions are handled by State Services while All‑India services serve both levels.
Using this pattern, a student could ask whether prison staff belong to State Services or All‑India/Central Services to judge which government manages prisons.
Notes that the Constitution allocates subject‑matter powers among Centre and States and that Parliament can sometimes legislate on state subjects — showing how administrative responsibility usually follows constitutional lists.
A student could consult the constitutional division of subjects (Union/State/Concurrent Lists) to see where prison administration appears.
States that the constitution clearly lays down powers of different government levels and calls regional governments 'State Governments', implying many local administrative functions are assigned to states.
Apply this principle by looking up whether prisons are treated as a regional/local administrative function and therefore assigned to State Governments.
Describes Central Services as under exclusive central jurisdiction and specialized technical roles — implying routine law-and-order or custodial functions might instead fall under state control.
A student could identify whether prison personnel are recruited under Central Services or under State Services to infer managerial responsibility.
This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
Login with Google to unlock all statements.
This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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