<p>The reason: There is an alarming rise in the number of HIV positive patients among prisoners in Maharashtra. A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the high court on treatment facilities for HIV positive patients.<br /><br />Hearing the petition, Justice P B Majumdar and Justice R G Ketkar asked the state government to explore the possibility of facilitating prisoners, who have been lodged for two to three years, to meet their wives sometime every month. <br /><br />They were of the view that the increase in HIV positive cases could be due to unprotected sex. The observations followed after the bench took on record a report submitted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Pune last July which said that 22 inmates of Yerwada central prison had tested HIV positive.<br /><br />The report stated that although a medical officer was available, the inmates were not given proper treatment due to the absence of an expert doctor. <br /><br />Advocate Anand Grover, who has been appointed amicus curiae in the case, said: “Whether we like it or not, there is sex in jails. ” <br /><br />Justice Majumdar observed: “There may be physical needs. See whether a separate place can be given to a prisoner and his wife for a day or two. The government is spending crores of rupees to curb the AIDS menace in jails. Instead, why don’t you take preventive steps?”</p>
<p>The reason: There is an alarming rise in the number of HIV positive patients among prisoners in Maharashtra. A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the high court on treatment facilities for HIV positive patients.<br /><br />Hearing the petition, Justice P B Majumdar and Justice R G Ketkar asked the state government to explore the possibility of facilitating prisoners, who have been lodged for two to three years, to meet their wives sometime every month. <br /><br />They were of the view that the increase in HIV positive cases could be due to unprotected sex. The observations followed after the bench took on record a report submitted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Pune last July which said that 22 inmates of Yerwada central prison had tested HIV positive.<br /><br />The report stated that although a medical officer was available, the inmates were not given proper treatment due to the absence of an expert doctor. <br /><br />Advocate Anand Grover, who has been appointed amicus curiae in the case, said: “Whether we like it or not, there is sex in jails. ” <br /><br />Justice Majumdar observed: “There may be physical needs. See whether a separate place can be given to a prisoner and his wife for a day or two. The government is spending crores of rupees to curb the AIDS menace in jails. Instead, why don’t you take preventive steps?”</p>
