Page 71 - Veritas - 02.03.22

The law prohibits using handcuffs on pregnant women unless they

possess any sort of harm to themselves or others. Therefore to en-

sure the mother’s and child’s safety, the provisions of the NATION-

AL MODEL PRISON MANUAL must be followed strictly to make

arrangements for the temporary release for delivery of the child in a

hospital. Information on the state of women should be made to the

court that has ordered detention, to enable the court to grant bail.

The birth certificate of the child will not have the prison’s name as

the place of birth rather will have any hospital’s name to avoid any

future social stigma. The pregnant woman should be given special

diet plans, separate accommodation to maintain hygiene so as to pro-

tect her infant from any sort of contagion for at least a year after the

child is born. She should also be arranged with treatments for a safe

delivery and pregnancy, which is free of cost. The mothers should

be given adequate information to make a suitable choice (medical

terminations). Aadhaar cards must be provided to both mother and

the child.

After parturition (delivery), the child should be kept in the prison

along with the mother in a manner in which they don’t feel like a

prisoner. NGOs, schools, paediatricians can be engaged to ensure

the basic facilities of those children to practise a healthy lifestyle.

Ideally, no child should be kept in a prison along with the mother

after the child is six years old. In case no family or friends are avail-

able to take care of the child, then the child will be sent to child care

institutions. Overnight visits must be allowed at least once a quar-

ter for minor children living outside the prison to maintain a bond

with their mother.

REFERENCE:

• Retrieved from www.prisonlegalnews.org