Ranchi, July 9: The Jharkhand High Court has directed the state government to implement the provisions of the Jharkhand Jail Manual, 2025, paving the way for jail warders to receive salaries, allowances, and service benefits equivalent to those of police personnel holding corresponding ranks.
Hearing a petition filed by prison warders Pradeep Tirki and Dilip Kumar Sahu, the bench of Justice Deepak Roshan ordered the state government to issue a formal notification within eight weeks implementing the relevant provisions of the jail manual.
The court further directed that all financial benefits be extended to eligible employees within four weeks of issuing the notification.
The petitioners argued that although jail warders possess educational qualifications similar to those of police constables and perform duties of a comparable nature, they continue to receive lower salaries and fewer service benefits.
They also contended that food and uniform allowances have not been revised for several years, leaving prison staff at a disadvantage.During the hearing, the court was informed that the Jharkhand Jail Manual, 2025 has already come into force.
It observed that Chapter IV, Rule 11 of the manual provides that the pay and allowances of jail personnel should be equivalent to those of employees in corresponding ranks of the state police department.
Despite the provision being in effect, the government has not implemented the rule, resulting in jail warders being denied parity in pay, food allowance, uniform allowance, and other service-related benefits, the petitioners submitted.
The High Court’s order is expected to benefit jail warders across the state by ensuring implementation of the jail manual and extending long-pending financial and service benefits in accordance with its provisions.
