Presidency Jail
Calcutta High Court lawyer Kaushik Gupta said the circular can be challenged through a writ petition as the right to keep in touch with family members and friends is part of the right to life guaranteed under the Constitution. Hence, a prisoner cannot be denied the right to speak to his/her lawyer,” he said. Kolkata: Prisoners charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) or under various sections of the anti-terror laws or for waging war against the state are no longer able to make phone calls to their family members, friends, lawyers and human rights activists after the govt issued a circular that curbed their right to make phone calls. Those prohibited from making phone calls to their family members or lawyers include all political prisoners detained on suspicion of being Maoists, as well as prisoners detained as Islamic terrorists. The contact with family and friends is also part of the rehabilitation process. “Moreover, the right to representation is also a constitutional right.
All categories of prisoners were previously allowed to make phone calls from the prison phone booths at their own expense to three pre-registered phone numbers.
Prison officials claimed these strict measures were introduced from Aug 30, 2026, after cellphones and other electronic items were recovered from the cell of Aftab Ansari, who is currently serving a life sentence in the American Centre attack case.