A new telephone facility for prisoners in West Bengal correctional homes has triggered concerns over privacy, surveillance and human rights. The state prison department has introduced a special phone service to allow inmates to communicate with their families, but the facility comes with strict monitoring provisions.
According to a recent directive issued by the Inspector General of Prisons, inmates will be permitted to make calls through prepaid landline phones installed in correctional facilities. However, all conversations will reportedly be recorded, enabling authorities to monitor whom prisoners contact and what they discuss.
The move comes amid repeated recoveries of mobile phones from different correctional homes. Prison department sources suggest that the new system is intended to improve communication security and prevent the unauthorised use of mobile devices inside prisons.
Not every prisoner will be eligible for the facility. Foreign nationals detained in correctional homes and inmates accused in cases involving sedition will reportedly be excluded from the telephone service.
The policy has already drawn objections from several human rights organisations. Activists argue that denying prisoners, particularly those accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or suspected of Maoist links, access to family communication may violate fundamental human rights.
While authorities maintain that recorded calls are necessary for prison security, concerns remain over privacy, transparency and the safeguards governing the use of recorded conversations.
