Delhi govt announces up to Rs 7.5 lakh compensation for unnatural jail deaths

Delhi has notified a compensation scheme for families of prisoners who die unnaturally in its jails. The move aligns with NHRC guidelines and sets a formal review process for accountability.

In Short

• Compensation ranges from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh per case
• Rs 7.5 lakh for deaths due to clashes or torture by jail staff
• Scheme excludes natural deaths, escapes, disasters

The Delhi government has notified a scheme under which the families or legal heirs of prisoners who die under unnatural circumstances in Delhi jails will be eligible for compensation of up to Rs 7.5 lakh. The compensation will be paid in cases covered under the new provisions.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, the amount will range between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh depending on the circumstances of each case. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the scheme, notified in line with the National Human Rights Commission guidelines, will provide timely relief to affected families in specified cases and strengthen administrative accountability.

Under the notification, Rs 7.5 lakh will be paid to the family of a prisoner if the death took place due to clashes between inmates or alleged torture or assault by prison authorities. A compensation of Rs 5 lakh has been fixed for cases involving negligence by prison authorities or staff, negligence by medical or paramedical personnel, or suicide by a prisoner.

The Home Department notification said the Scheme for Payment of Compensation on Account of Death of Prisoners in Delhi Prison, 2025, will apply only to cases of unnatural death in any Delhi prison on or after the date of notification. It also said no compensation will be paid in cases of natural death or death due to illness.

Deaths that take place while a prisoner is escaping from prison or from lawful custody will not be covered under the scheme. Deaths caused by disasters or calamities have also been kept outside its scope.

In every such case, the jail superintendent will have to submit the magisterial inquiry report, post-mortem report, final cause of death, the prisoner's medical history, and details of treatment provided before death to the Director General of Prisons, Delhi. The cases will then be reviewed by a committee headed by the Director General of Prisons, with the Assistant Inspector General of Prisons, the Resident Medical Officer, the Deputy Controller of Accounts, and the Law Officer as members. Overall, the scheme sets out compensation of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh for specified cases of unnatural deaths in Delhi prisons, along with a defined process for review.

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