Most pregnancies in West Bengal prisons happened outside jails: Amicus Curiae tells Supreme Court

Most of the pregnancies reported in women's prisons in West Bengal happened when the prisoners were outside jail, the Supreme Court was recently told. .The Court had recently decided to examine allegations that women were getting pregnant in jails of West Bengal and sought a response from the amicus in the matter. Amicus Curiae and Senior Advocate Gaurav Agarwal has now told the Court that most of the women prisoners were already expecting when they were brought to the jails. "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 returned back expecting," the reply filed by Agrawal on February 12 said.He further submitted that ADG and IG Correctional Services, West Bengal informed that in the last four years, 62 children were born in the jails in West Bengal..The Supreme Court decided to consider the issue after it was first highlighted before the Calcutta High Court on February 8. Before the High Court, a lawyer appointed as an amicus had suggested prohibiting the entry of male employees to jail facilities where women prisoners were lodged. The High Court was told, at the time, that around 196 babies were reported to have been born in jail. .Before the Supreme Court, Senior Advocate Agarwal made the following suggestions to tackle the issue:1. The senior most lady judicial officer in the district should assess the available security measures in the said women's jails/ barracks, along with the senior most lady police officer in the district and Superintendent of the women's jails/ women's barracks.2. These officials may also examine the availability of sufficient women personnel to maintain the security and welfare of women prisoners and also see to the availability of regular health checkups of women at the time of admissions and at periodic intervals.3. Specific suggestions have been made to strengthen the existing mechanisms, for filling up posts and/or strengthening the health care infrastructure for women in jail4. In jails where there are children, it may be advisable that a lady member of the Child Welfare Committee of the district is also be associated to examine the availability of crèches, schooling and other facilities for children who are lodged with their imprisoned mothers.