The Delhi government has decided to provide ₹7.5 lakh in compensation to the families of prisoners who die under unnatural circumstances while in jail. This initiative aims to ensure justice and accountability within the prison system and is considered a significant step toward protecting human rights. Home Minister Kailash Gahlot announced this decision on Friday.
The proposal also includes provisions for recovering compensation from the salaries of culpable jail officials to ensure responsibility and accountability. The Delhi government has sent this proposal to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena for approval, and it will be implemented upon receiving his consent.
Under this policy, compensation will be provided for unnatural deaths resulting from inmate altercations, physical assaults by jail staff, or negligence by medical and paramedical personnel. However, it will not apply to deaths due to suicide, escape attempts, deaths outside the jail, or natural causes, including disasters or diseases.
The policy requires the concerned jail superintendent to submit a detailed report, including a magistrate’s inquiry report, post-mortem report, cause of death, medical history at the time of entry into the jail, and any medical treatment provided before death. This report will be sent to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for information.
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