Campaign for enhancing Legal Services to Women inmates and their accompanying children in Model Jail, Chandigarh

The Voice of Chandigarh/Canada News

A Campaign for enhancing Legal Services to Women inmates and their accompanying children in Model Jail, Chandigarh was released by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge Punjab & Haryana High Court-cum-Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, UT, Chandigarh in the presence of Mr. Mahavir Singh, Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, UT, Chandigarh and Mr. Ashok Kr. Mann, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, UT, Chandigarh.

The Campaign had been undertaken in Model Jail, Chandigarh by a Multi-Disciplinary team in the month of January 2021. The team consisted of representatives from Legal Services Authority, Education Department, Health Department, Social Welfare Department and Department of Prisons. The team had visited in the Jail and had interaction with the Female inmates and also inquired about their children. After the interaction certain requirements were expressed by the prisoners. Some of the specific requirements were as under:

• Need to supplementary educational classes for NIOS and IGNOU programs
• Reading room facility with books
• Counselling services
• Separate Legal Aid Cell in Women’s wing
• Child protection services for children of prisoners who are in prison as well as outside

Based on the needs expressed, the matter had been placed before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge Punjab & Haryana High Court-cum-Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, UT, Chandigarh and he has been pleased to start a “Nyay Seva Kendra – One Stop Solution Centre for Female Prisoners” to be set up in the women’s barracks that will be a multi-service centre that will be run by inputs from various departments. The centre will be run from Monday to Friday between 09.00 am and 12 noon. The schedule will be as follows.

In contemporary times, the Prison is supposed to be a place meant for a reformatory purpose. However, the entire purpose fails when the prisoners are denied the very rights that are fundamental to their being a human being. A few decades ago, prisoners were looked down upon and were considered to have forsaken all their rights. However, modern society recognizes the rights of prisoners. Hence, a conviction for a crime does not reduce the person into a non-person, whose rights are subject to the whim of the prison administration and authorities.

It is the need of the hour that we take positive steps to ensure that the basic human rights of prisoners are not infringed and that they live with dignity because human beings denying other human their basic rights does nothing but taking us right back to the era of cannibalism and war. To improve prison status, it does not mean that prison life should be made easy, it means, it should be made humane and sensible. The functioning of judiciary reveals that it has exercised its powers in the most creative manner and devised new strategies to ensure the protection of Human Rights of the prisoners.

At the time of approving, and during, the Campaign Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge Punjab and Haryana High Court cum Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority UT Chandigarh, was of the view that mere words on paper, or even many papers, have never been enough, and it is high time that laws are implemented and given the chance to fulfil its purpose of creating a peaceful society of equals. His Lordship directed the Legal Services Authorities (SLSA and DLSA) to come up with all the genuine problems of women inmates and their accompanying as well as other children, and possible solution thereof. Keeping in view the aforesaid directions of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh various solutions were suggested and recommendations have been made.

Speaking at the launch of the report Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, said, “the rights of women prisoners are easy to understand from the human rights perspective. The challenges faced by women inmates’ stem from the fact that prisons have traditionally been designed to suit the needs of men. Women prisoners receive minimal investment usually due to their low numbers, which makes it economically unviable to create separate infrastructure for them. It is also a fact that female crime is a crucial factor that disrupts family life and stability of the Society. The children are forced to exist and cope with this altered reality, and that also leaves deep psychological scars. “Nyay Seva Kendra” is a beginning and we hope that this integrated approach shall have the desired results.”

Speaking during the launch of the report Mahavir Singh, Member Secretary, SLSA, said, “I am pleased to observe SLSA and DLSA have successfully implemented the campaign in Chandigarh and is now presenting the Campaign Report with detailed findings and recommendations.”

Speaking during the launch of the report Ashok Kr. Mann, CJM-cum-Secretary, DLSA said, “I am pleased to share the Campaign Report under the able guidance of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge, High Court of Punjab and Haryana and Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh for his vision and personal interest throughout the Campaign. I would also like to acknowledge the guidance and efforts of Ld. District and Session Judge, Mr. Vijay Singh; and learned Member Secretary, SLSA, UT Chandigarh, Mr. Mahavir Singh.”

        The Inauguration of the “Nyay Seva Kendra – One Stop Solution Centre for Female Prisoners” will be held on 10.02.2021 at 03:00 PM.