Govt notifies compensation scheme for unnatural deaths of prison inmates

Kin of prison inmates who die there under unnatural circumstances will be eligible for compensation up to Rs 7.5 lakh under a scheme notified by the Delhi Government.

The Rekha Gupta Government has notified a compensation scheme for the next of kin or legal heirs of prisoners who suffer an unnatural death while in custody in Delhi prisons. Under the scheme, compensation ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh will be provided depending on the circumstances of each case.

According to the notification issued by the Home (General) Department of the Delhi Government, the scheme will be implemented as the Scheme for Payment of Compensation on Account of Death of Prisoners in Delhi Prison, 2025.

It will apply only to cases involving the unnatural death of a prisoner in any Delhi prison on or after the date of notification of the scheme. Unnatural custodial death could be caused due to quarrels among inmates, beatings by prison staff, torture, negligence by prison officers, or negligence by medical or paramedical officers.

As per the notification, compensation of Rs 7.5 lakh will be paid to the family of a deceased prisoner in cases where death occurs due to clashes between inmates or alleged torture or assault by prison personnel. A compensation of Rs 5 lakh has been prescribed in cases involving negligence by prison authorities or staff, negligence by medical or paramedical personnel, or suicide by a prisoner.

The notification makes it clear that no compensation will be payable in cases of natural death or death caused by illness.

It further states that deaths occurring while escaping from prison or from lawful custody, as well as deaths caused by disasters or calamities, will not be covered under the scheme.

Under the scheme, the concerned jail superintendent will be required to submit the magisterial inquiry report, post-mortem report, final cause of death, the prisoner’s medical history, and details of the treatment provided before death to the Director General (Prisons), Delhi, in every case.

According to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the scheme, notified in accordance with the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), will ensure timely relief to affected families in specified cases while further strengthening administrative accountability.

The notification further provides that these cases will be reviewed by a committee headed by the Director General (Prisons). The committee will also comprise the Assistant Inspector General (Prisons), the Resident Medical Officer, the Deputy Controller (Accounts), and the Law Officer. Based on the committee’s recommendation, a proposal seeking approval of the compensation will be placed before the administrative secretary of the department. The notification also stipulates that once the compensation has been disbursed, the concerned jail superintendent will inform the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The chief minister said the Delhi Government remains fully committed to upholding the rule of law, human dignity, and constitutional values. She said that any unnatural death in custody is an extremely serious matter, and it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure transparency, accountability, and due process in such cases. She added that the government’s objective is to strengthen transparency, sensitivity, and accountability in prison administration while ensuring justice in every case in accordance with the law.