Delhi govt proposes Rs 7.5 lakh compensation for families of prisoners who die in custody

The Delhi government has suggested compensation of Rs 7.5 lakh for the families of prisoners who die due to unnatural causes while in custody in the city’s jails.

As per a statement, the proposal, which aims to address grievances and uphold human rights within the prison system, has been sent to the lieutenant governor for approval.

“Unnatural custodial deaths, as defined by the policy, could result from incidents such as fights between inmates, mistreatment or torture by prison staff, or negligence by medical officers,” the statement said.

However, compensation will not be provided in cases of suicide, escape attempts, natural causes, or disasters.

Commenting on the policy, Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot said, “This initiative highlights our commitment to ensuring justice and accountability in the prison system. Offering compensation to families of prisoners who die unnatural deaths in custody is a step towards addressing their grievances and protecting human rights”.

The home minister stressed that the policy is designed to promote accountability and prevent misconduct.

Additionally, the proposal includes provisions to recover the compensation from the salaries of prison staff found responsible for such deaths, the statement said.

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A committee, led by the director general of prisons, will investigate these incidents and decide if the officials responsible should be held financially accountable.

To maintain transparency, a comprehensive report, including the magisterial inquiry report, post-mortem results, and the deceased’s medical history, will be submitted by the jail superintendent to the director general of prisons and forwarded to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the statement added. (With inputs from PTI)