The Hindu : New Delhi News : NHRC seeks report on sexual exploitation in jail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 04, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

NHRC seeks report on sexual exploitation in jail

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 3. The National Human Rights Commission has called for a factual report from the Director-General (Prisons) and Health Secretary of the Uttaranchal Government based on reports that appeared in the media of a woman prisoner being sexually exploited in the Hardwar district jail.

The news item, which appeared in a Hindi daily on February 1, reported that letters alleging sexual harassment of the 30-year old woman prisoner were sent by one of the convicted prisoners to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Hardwar and to the media. It stated that in connivance with women guards posted in the jail, senior officials were exploiting the woman prisoner sexually in the godown of the Ladies' Ward in the jail.

Due to these sexual relations, the woman prisoner got pregnant and on January 17/18, she was sent to the District Hospital for termination of her pregnancy. The woman prisoner herself narrated her story to the mother of one of the male prisoners who had visited the jail to meet her son. It was further alleged in the news report that the jail authorities with a view to covering up the scandal had not only been putting pressure on her but even those who had been making complaints about it were also threatened.

The Commission in its order observed that if the contents of the report were true, it raised serious issue of violation of human rights of female prisoners lodged in the jail. It has therefore called for a factual report from the State Government within two weeks.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi