Conjugal visits to counter sexual assault in prisons

In order to counter cases of sexual assault in prisons and allow inmates to maintain sexual relations with their spouses, two city-based activists have written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis (also home minister) contending that state prisons should permit conjugal visits.

The activists cited examples of Australia, Brazil, Denmark and Germany, that allow conjugal visits and where sexual assaults in prisons have come down as a result. "Conjugal visits help improve functioning of a marriage by maintaining an inmate's role as a husband or wife," reads the letter written by Farooque Dhala.

"Prisoners should be allowed to see their wives and have intimate relations with them by giving them a suitable place in the jails. When someone goes to prison, they are being punished for a crime, but their partner has not committed any crime," the letter further reads.

"I wrote to the authorities only after observing the same for several years. We need to understand the needs of every individual and if that helps in bringing down sexual assault, the government should think about it," Dhala told DNA.

However, a senior IPS officer, not wishing to be named, said, "Allowing it for inmates who are convicted for heinous crimes does not go down well."