Last Updated:
Superior-Class prisoners are spared hard labour and assigned tasks matching their skills, character, or past experience, such as teaching, library work or handling correspondence
Category-A prisoners typically reside in separate cells away from the general prison population. (Representative/PTI)
Jail is usually associated with hardship and confinement. But for some inmates, life behind bars is strikingly different, with special privileges setting them apart from the rest.
These inmates enjoy unique living arrangements and, unlike other inmates, are spared from strenuous tasks. For them, imprisonment largely means separation from the outside world, as their living, dining and clothing conditions differ greatly from the usual image of prison life.
Recommended Stories
These inmates are known as Superior Class Convicts in some states, while in others, they are referred to as Category-A prisoners.
Before delving into the specifics of Superior Class or Category-A prisoners, it is essential to understand the general classification of inmates in jails.
Categories Of Prisoners Defined In The Jail Manual
According to the jail manual, prisoners are typically divided into four categories. The first category includes undertrial prisoners, whose cases are ongoing in court and whose crimes have not yet been proven. The second category encompasses convicted prisoners, whose crimes have been proven and who have been sentenced by the court. The third category comprises civil prisoners, those facing civil cases. The fourth category includes detenues, who are held under the National Security Act (NSA) or preventive detention laws.
The division of prisoners in jail extends beyond these four main categories, with further subdivisions based on state jail manuals.
Who Are Superior-Class Or Category-A Prisoners?
Superior Class Prisoners or Category-A Prisoners occupy the first category. These prisoners usually hold prominent positions in the social, political, educational, and business spheres. This category often includes individuals such as ministers, MPs, MLAs, notable industrialists, high-ranking officials, writers, professors and social workers. According to the jail manual, this classification is reserved for prisoners whose previous lives have been entirely civilised, educated, and respectable.
Do These Prisoners Stay In Cells Or Barracks, And What Work Do They Do?
Category-A prisoners typically reside in separate cells away from the general prison population. They are housed in barracks only when other prisoners of a similar nature are present.
In terms of facilities, Category-A prisoners receive amenities such as a bed, a small table, stool, lamp, and mosquito net. They also have access to glasses, cups, jugs, spoons, and plates for their meals.
Regarding work assignments, these prisoners are never subjected to hard physical labour. Instead, they are given tasks that align with their abilities, character, and previous experiences, such as working in the library, teaching other prisoners, or handling correspondence.
Loading comments…
Read More
