Kolkata/IBNS: In a shocking claim, an amicus curiae informed the Calcutta High Court that women prisoners are getting pregnant inside the jails across the state of West Bengal, media reports said.

"Prisoners are getting pregnant during their stay in prisons. At least 196 babies were born in the prisons," an amicus curiae of all correctional homes informed the court on Thursday as reported by several media.

The amicus curiae said as quoted by Hindustan Times, "It is interesting to note that women prisoners, while in custody, are getting pregnant. Subsequently babies are born in prisons.

"At present, 196 babies are staying in different prisons of West Bengal."

The amicus curiae has requested the high court to prohibit entry of male employees of the correctional homes immediately.

The division bench of Calcutta High Court comprising Chief Justice Sivagnanam and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya has assigned the case to a separate division bench.

Taking a dig at the state government, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell head Amit Malviya posted on X, "Well done, Mamata Banerjee."