Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary has raised concerns over the prolonged detention of several foreign women inmates at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. During an inspection on Tuesday, Dr. Chowdhary found that many foreign women inmates continue to remain behind bars despite completing their sentences, as they are unable to furnish the required surety or arrange bail amounts.
According to Dr. Chowdhary, the government can provide up to ₹40,000 towards the surety amount for eligible inmates. However, some inmates have bail or surety requirements exceeding ₹1 lakh, making it difficult for them to secure release. The commission chairperson also pointed out that courts in some cases insist on land or property-based surety, which becomes a major hurdle for foreign nationals who have no local property or relatives capable of standing surety for them.
Dr. Chowdhary plans to take up the matter with the State government and explore legally permissible alternatives to ensure that eligible inmates are not kept in prison merely because they cannot arrange the required surety. The issue is particularly relevant to foreign women inmates from countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South Africa.
During the inspection, Dr. Chowdhary also noted a shortage of women prison staff, which is placing an additional burden on the available personnel. In some instances, a single supervisor is tasked with monitoring more than 200 women inmates during the night, making it extremely difficult to effectively supervise such a large number of prisoners.
The commission chairperson interacted with women prisoners, inspected the prison kitchen, food quality, drinking water facilities, sanitation, medical and psychiatric services, childcare arrangements, and other basic amenities. She also tasted the inmates’ food and stressed the need to give greater priority to education and skill-development programmes aimed at rehabilitation. Dr. Chowdhary examined complaints regarding alleged irregularities in the prison, sought details from officials, and discussed corrective measures.
