The Calcutta High Court has expressed serious concerns about the situation of women prisoners in West Bengal jails. The court was informed by the amicus curiae about the distressing issue of women inmates getting pregnant while in custody, with an estimated 196 babies reportedly born in different correctional facilities across the state.
This information came up during the mentioning of a case related to prison reforms and correctional homes in West Bengal. Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya, presiding over the division bench, took a grave view of the matter and scheduled it for hearing before a division bench specializing in criminal cases.
To address the issue, the amicus curiae suggested a preventive measure, proposing a prohibition on male employees from entering enclosures holding women prisoners. This recommendation was made considering the reported pregnancies among female inmates and the subsequent births of numerous children within the prison system.
Additionally, the amicus curiae presented further suggestions in a note dated January 25, aimed at improving conditions and ensuring the welfare of inmates in correctional facilities.
Another suggestion given by the amicus was to let all the District Judges, as they are the Chairman of the Board of Visitors, visit correctional homes under their respective jurisdiction to find out how many women prisoners have become pregnant during their stay. Also, the Chief Judicial Magistrates of all districts should conduct a pregnancy test on all women prisoners before sending them to correctional homes to prevent sexual exploitation. Pregnancy tests for this purpose should be done by all police stations in West Bengal. The bench acknowledged the gravity of the situation and released the matter from its current list, paving the way for further adjudication and deliberation on the proposed reforms.
During the proceedings, the amicus curiae also shared a first-hand observation of a pregnant woman and 15 children born within a visited correctional home, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the systemic challenges faced by incarcerated women in West Bengal.
This revelation has raised widespread concern and calls for comprehensive reforms to safeguard the rights and well-being of women prisoners within the state’s correctional system. The upcoming hearing before the division bench promises to delve deeper into these critical issues and explore effective measures to ensure justice and dignity for all inmates.
