“Human Rights, Custodial Governance, and Reintegration of Under-trial Prisoners in India”

under-trial prisoners; prison conditions; human rights; psychological impact; empirical legal study.

This paper empirically examines human rights compliance, prison conditions, and psychological impacts on under-trial prisoners in India using primary data from 210 respondents. In contrast, 62.9 per cent rated prison conditions as satisfactory, over half reported experiences of abuse, inadequate medical care, and significant mental health deterioration. The findings reveal systemic violations of Article 21 of the Constitution, the Nelson Mandela Rules, and Supreme Court mandates, including D.K. Basu and Inhuman Conditions in 1382 Prisons. Psychological harm, disrupted family relations, and uncertainty regarding post-release employment underscore the structural nature of custodial deprivation. By integrating empirical evidence with constitutional and international human rights analysis, the study demonstrates how carceral conditions impede dignity, rehabilitation, and reintegration, and argues for rights-based prison governance reforms.