The decision by the Supreme Court of India on October 3 to strike down provisions in state prison manuals that allow caste-based discrimination is a watershed moment in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in our country. This ruling reaffirms the constitutional protections under ‘Article 15’ which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth, and stands as a powerful reminder of the importance of dignity for all individuals, including those in prisons. Caste-based discrimination is a deeply entrenched issue in Indian society, with roots extending back thousands of years. Despite numerous efforts to eradicate it, casteism continues to manifest in various forms, including in places like prisons, where the state's responsibility to treat all individuals equally should be paramount. The practice of assigning menial and degrading tasks, such as manual scavenging or cleaning, to prisoners based on their caste is a stark violation of the right to equality. It perpetuates the unjust and inhumane treatment of individuals solely because of their social identity, reinforcing the hierarchies that India’s constitutional framework seeks to dismantle. The Court’s ruling sends a strong signal that such practices have no place in a modern, democratic, and secular state like India. Prisons, by design, are institutions meant for rehabilitation, and the idea that certain individuals should be subjected to worse conditions purely because of their caste undermines the very purpose of incarceration. Such practices not only violate **Article 15** but also the fundamental right to life with dignity under **Article 21**. All individuals, regardless of their legal status or the crimes they may have committed, retain basic human rights, and treating prisoners differently based on caste reinforces systemic inequalities that should have no place in a society committed to justice and fairness. Moreover, this judgment highlights the urgent need for prison reforms in India. Prisons have long been neglected in discussions about human rights, and issues like overcrowding, violence, and the lack of basic facilities dominate the discourse. However, caste-based discrimination within prisons is a relatively less-discussed aspect of the problem. The Supreme Court's decision can serve as a catalyst for a larger conversation about how to make prisons more equitable and just, moving beyond punitive measures to a more humane approach centered on rehabilitation. The Court’s decision is a significant step towards achieving the constitutional vision of a caste-free society. It reiterates the foundational principle that no one should be discriminated against based on caste, not even in the most marginalized and vulnerable sections of society, like prisoners. This ruling must now be backed by strong implementation and a commitment to broader reforms that address both the symptoms and causes of caste-based discrimination in our country’s prisons.