Patna: Patna High Court has taken a strict stand on the condition of children living in jails with their mothers in Bihar. The court said that children aged 1 to 6 years who stay with women prisoners must get proper education. Acting Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar asked the state government, prison department, and Bihar State Legal Services Authority (BALSA) to give clear information about which children are going to which schools.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Santosh Upadhyay. His lawyer, Vikas Kumar Pankaj, told the court that in 2002 the government had issued a notification to provide basic facilities for these children, but it has not been fully followed even today. The court directed the authorities to file a detailed reply soon.
According to the petition, there are 228 children living in jails with their mothers in Bihar. This includes 103 boys and 125 girls. The highest number of such children, 16 each, are in Bhagalpur and Nawada women’s jails. Many other jails in different districts also have children living with their mothers, without any proper education or schooling.
The court has ordered the state to make a clear plan to connect these children with mainstream education. It also said that the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority should take steps to ensure their education. The next hearing on this issue will be held on 12 September.
