There are reports that the Calcutta High court has been informed that the women prisoners who are in custody are getting pregnant during their custody in jail. The court was notified that a total of 196 babies have been born thus far. In response, the bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya remarked that the matter is of grave concern.
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WEST BENGAL: The Calcutta High Court has taken cognizance of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting a deeply troubling issue within the walls of correctional facilities. The PIL brings to light the alarming situation of women inmates becoming pregnant while in custody, a revelation that has prompted the court to consider serious measures to ensure the safety and dignity of women prisoners.
The PIL, filed in the Calcutta High Court, seeks immediate action to address the safety of women lodged in jails, reporting that an unsettling number of women prisoners have been found to be pregnant during their incarceration. This situation raises grave concerns about the conditions under which women are held in correctional homes and the potential violations of their rights and safety.
In response to the PIL, the bench, comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, describing it as “serious.” The court’s reaction underscores the urgency of addressing the systemic issues within correctional facilities that allow for such breaches of women’s safety to occur.
One of the key requests of the PIL is the prohibition of male employees in areas where women prisoners are housed. This measure is proposed as a direct response to safeguard the rights and well-being of women inmates, ensuring that their enclosures are managed in a manner that prevents any form of abuse or misconduct. The amicus curiae, representing the interests of the public and the inmates, informed the court that at least 196 babies have been born in prisons so far, a statistic that starkly illustrates the extent of the issue at hand.
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Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, recognizing the critical nature of these revelations, issued an order to transfer all matters related to prison reforms, particularly those concerning the safety of women inmates, to a bench specializing in criminal matters. This decision reflects the judiciary’s commitment to taking comprehensive steps towards reforming prison conditions and ensuring that the rights and dignity of women prisoners are protected.
The CJ passed the order,
“The issue brought to our notice is a serious one. We deem it fit to transfer all these matters (prison reforms PILs) to the bench hearing criminal matters.”
The Calcutta High Court’s engagement with this issue marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to reform correctional facilities and address the systemic failures that compromise the safety and rights of inmates. As the court proceeds to delve deeper into this matter, it is expected that significant measures will be implemented to prevent the recurrence of such distressing situations, thereby upholding the principles of justice and human dignity within the correctional system.
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