Participating in the Colloquium eminent lawyer, Sri Dipak Sengupta expressed his dismay at the absence of voting rights for prisoners. He pointed out that this deprivation acts as a 'dehumanizing factor’ as a large number of these people are yet to be adjudicated guilty. He further emphasized that such a legal provision is not a failure of the Constitution but a failure of leadership of the Nation.

Dr Amitava Sen a noted Barrister from New Delhi stressed that the right to vote is an inherent democratic right of every citizen which can’t be taken away unless there are good reasons for the same. He reminded the gathering that only an inclusive society can be an ideal democracy and exclusion of certain sections neither helps these segments nor the society.

Ms Sreerupa Mitra Chowdhury who has been part of the prison reform movement in our State for the last three years advised concrete action in the direction of securing voting rights for prisoners in India through awareness, advocacy and if needed legal activism. Swami Divyananda of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama wondered how the right to vote can be taken away when the same person can have the right to fight an election while lodged in a Jail.

He announced his decision to start a signature campaign for voting rights of prisoners in Malda and elsewhere. Sri Dibyendu Sarkar, OSD & Ex-Officio Deputy Secretary, Jails Department pointed out that the denial of the right comes in the way of reintegration of prisoners with the mainstream society on their release. Citing examples of many western countries particularly European ones, he reminded those present that voting rights were now being increasingly granted all over the World.

Ms Shalini Dewan, Director UNIC, New Delhi expressed her happiness about the beginning made in the State of West Bengal for securing social justice to the persons incarcerated in the correctional homes of the State. Ms Dewan reminded that India is a signatory to all of the International human rights instruments and 60 years after the Independence it is time that the concept of freedom is better understood with the experience and knowledge of the functioning of the Indian Democracy during last 60 years. She further opined that it appears to be a serious violation of human rights as nearly 70% of the inmates in Indian Jails are unsentenced.

The officials from West Bengal Correctional Services, barefoot lawyers of Matrisangha Janakalyan Ashram, Pratinidhi and Members of the Presidency Prison Panchayat and prisoners themselves participated in the Colloquium all of whom pleaded for the granting of voting rights to prisoners so that they can feel that they are part of the society and citizens of this country. The Pratinidhi of Prison Panchayat Hatem Ali Mondal delivered the welcome speech for the delegates.