143 Gujarat prisoners to spend Diwali at home as state grants 15-day parole

The Gujarat government has approved 15 days of Diwali parole for 143 eligible prisoners from November 6. The annual measure allows qualifying inmates to celebrate the festival with their families.

In Short

• Policy covers eligible women and male inmates aged above 60 years
• The annual temporary release policy was introduced by Gujarat in 2003
• Serious offenders and prisoners facing preventive orders remain excluded from eligibility

As Diwali approaches, 143 eligible prisoners in Gujarat will get an opportunity to celebrate the festival with their families after the state government approved 15 days of parole for them, starting November 6, the occasion of Dhanteras.

The decision has been taken as part of the state government's prison reforms and prisoner welfare initiatives, under which eligible inmates are granted temporary release during Diwali every year.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR DIWALI PAROLE?

Under the policy, introduced in 2003, the Gujarat government grants 15 days of parole to eligible women prisoners and male prisoners aged above 60 years to allow them to celebrate Diwali with their families.

This year, the government has approved parole for 143 prisoners, including 103 eligible male inmates aged above 60 and 40 women prisoners. They will be released on November 6, Dhanteras, for a period of 15 days.

PRISONERS INELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE

However, the benefit is not extended to prisoners convicted of serious offences or those falling under specific exclusion categories prescribed by the state government.

According to Director General of Police (Prisons) Dr K L N Rao, prisoners whose appeals are pending before the High Court, NRI prisoners and inmates belonging to other states are not eligible for Diwali parole.

The exclusions also cover prisoners serving sentences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA).

Prisoners involved in terrorist activities or activities that harm the state's economy are also barred from the benefit. Those convicted in more than one criminal case, as well as inmates involved in serious and anti-social offences such as rape, kidnapping, robbery, dacoity, theft and extortion, are not eligible.

Additionally, prisoners against whom preventive orders have been issued are excluded from the Diwali parole scheme.

The annual parole initiative is part of the Gujarat government's efforts towards prisoner welfare and prison reforms, giving eligible inmates an opportunity to spend the festival with their families.

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