Kerala has earned praise in recent years for enabling inmates to access education. An earlier media report had noted that from 2020 to 2024, at least 184 murder convicts in the state had signed up for academic courses.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has issued a notice to the Director General of Prisons, Kerala, after taking suo motu cognizance of a media report exposing the state’s failure to support the growing number of inmates seeking to pursue education behind bars.
The Commission, in a statement released Friday, raised concerns over the lack of infrastructure, manpower, and internet access that has rendered many prisoners’ educational aspirations practically unattainable. The NHRC has called for a detailed report from Kerala’s prison authorities within four weeks.
The development stems from an April 25 investigative report by The Indian Express, which laid bare systemic challenges faced by inmates, especially in Central Prison and Correctional Home, Kannur. With over 1,050 inmates in the facility and approximately 200 eligible for academic opportunities—including online law degrees – the absence of support systems has left their rehabilitation dreams hanging in the balance.
“Reportedly, the growing number of inmates, including those convicted of grave crimes, are choosing to turn their lives around by enrolling in regular or online educational courses,” the NHRC statement noted. “But the authorities are struggling to support their efforts.”
The Commission observed that if the report’s content is accurate, it indicates potential violations of inmates’ human rights, specifically their right to education—a key component in the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners into society.
Court Case Highlights Deeper Crisis
The issue came to light through a legal battle in the Kerala High Court. The prisons and correctional services department, in its affidavit, opposed an interim bail plea by Balamurali, a convict serving time in Kannur Central Prison for a sexual assault case. Balamurali had sought a month’s release to attend admission procedures for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme at Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Law College in Mangaluru.
In its submission, the department cited severe staff shortages, lack of secure internet access, and the absence of dedicated electronic devices as key hurdles in allowing inmates to pursue online courses. The court, concurring with these concerns and considering the gravity of Balamurali’s offence, ultimately denied his plea.
“There simply aren’t enough hands to manage or supervise the educational programmes effectively,” the department stated. The report also underlined that the prison lacks any system to monitor internet use by inmates, making it difficult to ensure that online access is limited strictly to academic content.
Security Versus Education
The debate has now exposed a complex dilemma: balancing security concerns with the right to rehabilitation. Prison officials argue that some convicts, particularly those deemed dangerous, might exploit educational enrolment as a loophole to seek temporary release from custody.
“Many inmates, including dangerous criminals, are now trying to apply for regular courses as a devious tactic to get interim release and facilitate travel outside prison,” the report warned. Without a comprehensive policy at the state level, jail authorities say they are handicapped in implementing meaningful educational programmes.
Security concerns have also stymied attempts to implement digital learning. In an age where online education is increasingly prevalent, Kerala’s jails lag due to the absence of secure networks. The risk of misuse, including contact with the outside world or access to prohibited content, remains high without proper oversight mechanisms.
Kerala has earned praise in recent years for enabling inmates to access education. An earlier report by The New Indian Express had noted that from 2020 to 2024, at least 184 murder convicts in the state had signed up for academic courses, including higher education.
Despite this apparent willingness to reform among prisoners, facilities have not kept pace. The absence of a structured policy or resource allocation has created wide disparities between intent and implementation.
Experts warn that without investment in educational infrastructure, including qualified instructors, technological support, and a robust monitoring system, the system risks becoming both ineffective and vulnerable to manipulation.
NHRC’s Intervention
The NHRC’s notice marks an important intervention in the debate over prison reform. “The Commission has observed that the content of the news report, if true, raises issues of violation of human rights of prisoners who intend to pursue educational programmes or courses,” the statement read.
The Commission’s call for a detailed report could pave the way for policy-level changes if the Kerala government takes the findings seriously. The notice underscores the constitutional obligation to uphold the dignity and reformative prospects of all prisoners, regardless of their crimes.
Legal analysts suggest that the NHRC’s involvement may push the Kerala government to frame clearer guidelines on prisoner education, allocate resources for digital infrastructure, and address the acute staff shortage plaguing the system.
In the broader national context, the incident highlights a disconnect between India’s progressive rehabilitation laws and the ground realities of prison management. While Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, including access to education, the lack of institutional readiness often renders these rights hollow for prison inmates.
Image: Chatgpt
