Most women inmates in West Bengal prisons were already expecting, Supreme Court told

New Delhi, February 14

Amid judicial activism over women inmates in West Bengal prisons getting pregnant, the Supreme Court has been informed that 62 babies were born in jails across the state over the last four years and most of such women inmates were already expecting when brought to the prison.

“The undersigned received information from the ADG & IG correctional services, West Bengal, at 5.32 pm on February 10 for the last four years of all child births in the jails in West Bengal, which indicates that there were 62 children born in the jails in West Bengal during the last four years,” said senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal, who is assisting the top court as amicus curiae in prison-related cases.

62 births in jails over 4 years

• 62 children were born in West Bengal jails during the last four years, said senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal, who is assisting the top court as amicus curiae
• “It appears that most of the women prisoners were already expecting at the time when they were brought to the jails. In some cases, the women prisoners had gone out on parole and came back expecting,” he added.

“It appears that most of the women prisoners were already expecting at the time when they were brought to these jails. In some cases, the women prisoners had gone out on parole and came back expecting,” Agrawal said in an application seeking appropriate directions on the issue.

At present, 181 children are living in jails, 28 of whom were born in the jail while 153 came with women prisoners. Agrawal said his statement was based on information received from Additional Director General and Inspector General, Correctional Services, West Bengal, regarding children born to women prisoners while in custody.

Taking cognisance of close to 200 women prisoners in West Bengal jails and correctional homes getting pregnant, the SC has sought a report on the issue. A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah had asked amicus curiae Gaurav Agrawal to examine the matter and file a status report.

After holding discussions with the jail authorities of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, he submitted that it appeared from the conversations that in some places, including Delhi’s Tihar Jail, there are separate jails for women and no male staff are allowed to go inside.

“During a visit by any male doctor or official, a women guard accompanies the person,” the application said.

“There is a need for a complete security audit of the women’s jails and barracks in the country,” the amicus curiae said.