Published Paper Details:

The incarceration of women in India exposes critical gaps in the recognition and protection of maternal healthcare rights. Despite constitutional guarantees under Article 21 and judicial pronouncements affirming the right to health, women prisoners, especially those who are pregnant or mothers of young children, continue to face systemic neglect, inadequate medical infrastructure, and poor hygiene conditions. This paper examines the constitutional, statutory, and international human rights frameworks governing maternal healthcare in prisons, with particular reference to landmark judgments such as Sheela Barse v State of Maharashtra and R D Upadhyay v State of A.P.. It also evaluates comparative practices from the United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa to highlight potential models for reform in India. Drawing on a human rights, feminist, and public health perspective, the study identifies key challenges in implementation and proposes gender-sensitive reforms, alternative sentencing for mothers, and stronger monitoring mechanisms. Ultimately, the paper argues that ensuring maternal healthcare in prisons is not merely a welfare concern but a constitutional and human rights imperative.