Delhi Govt Proposes Rs 7.5 Lakh Compensation for Unnatural Custodial Deaths

The Delhi government has proposed a compensation of Rs 7.5 lakh for families of prisoners who die due to unnatural causes in custody. The proposal, aimed at upholding human rights and fostering accountability, excludes suicides and natural deaths. It requires approval from the lieutenant governor.

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

A statement revealed that the proposal, designed to address grievances and uphold human rights within the prison system, has been submitted to the lieutenant governor for approval.

According to the policy, 'Unnatural custodial deaths may occur due to incidents such as quarrels between inmates, mistreatment or torture by prison staff, or negligence by medical officers,' the statement said.

The compensation excludes cases of death by suicide, escape attempts, natural causes, or disasters.

Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot remarked, 'This initiative underscores our commitment to ensuring justice and accountability within the prison system. Providing compensation to the families of prisoners who suffer unnatural deaths in custody is a step towards addressing their grievances and upholding human rights.' The minister emphasized that the policy aims to foster accountability and act as a preventive measure against misconduct.

The proposal also includes provisions for recovering the compensation amount from the salaries of prison staff found responsible for custodial deaths, according to the statement.

A committee led by the director general of prisons will investigate such incidents and determine whether to recover compensation from the officials at fault.

For transparency, a detailed report—including the magisterial inquiry report, postmortem findings, 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 agencies.)