WB Assembly amends Act to curb use of mobile phones in correctional homes

Faced with the menace of "uncontrolled" use of cell phones in correctional homes by inmates, the West Bengal government today amended an Act to make the offence punishable by a three-year prison term.

The Assembly passed the West Bengal Correctional Services Amendment Bill, 2018, today to make the possession or use of any wireless communication device or its components like SIM card, memory card, battery or charger, a crime punishable by up to three years in jail.

The wireless communication device would include mobile phone, personal computer, wifi, tablet, laptop or palmtop. The three-year sentence would be served by the prisoner after completing the one he/she is already serving, the amended Act stated.

The amendment also makes officers and other employees of correctional homes liable for wilfully participating or conniving in entry or despatch of any wireless communication device from the jails and would face a prison term of up to three years or with fine up to Rs 3,000 or both, if found guilty.

Tabling the bill in the House, state Correctional Services Minister Ujjal Biswas said despite strict scrutiny and checks, mobile phones are being smuggled into jails.

"It has been felt necessary to curb the menace of uncontrolled use of cell phones in the correctional homes by the prisoners," he said, adding for this reason, it was considered necessary to make amendments in the West Bengal Correctional Services Act, 1992.