In a historic verdict, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has allowed jail inmates to have sex with their legal partners provided they wish to have children. On Tuesday, the Court held that the right of convicts and jail inmates to have conjugal visits or artificial insemination for progeny was a fundamental right, and directed jail officials to facilitate the same. So far, jail inmates have been denied the right to extend their progeny, despite repeated requests from NGOs and human right activists. A PIL was also filed in 2012 seeking a breakthrough
“A society which is currently involved in academic and intellectual debates on ‘gay-rights’ or the recognition of ‘third-gender’, cannot shy away nor can it keep concealed under the carpet the pragmatic concept of conjugal visits of the jail inmates,” said Justice Surya Kant.
It is quite commendable that the court now recognizes and looks forward to remedying social stigmas that violate basic human rights. The Logical Indian hopes similar progressive verdicts in the future will do away with other prevalent social and legal injustices faced by several individuals and communities.
