Rs 7.5 lakh compensation for unnatural deaths in jail: Delhi govt

The Delhi Government has notified a scheme to provide compensation to the next of kin or legal heirs of prisoners who die an unnatural death while in custody within the prisons of the National Capital Region. Delhi Government’s Home Department issued a notification on Sunday. Under this scheme, compensation of up to 7.5 lakh rupees will be awarded, depending on the specific circumstances. Compensation of 5 lakh rupees has been fixed for cases involving negligence in the discharge of duties by prison officials or staff, negligence by medical or paramedical personnel, and cases of prisoner suicide. 
According to the notification, the scheme will apply only to cases involving the unnatural death of a prisoner in any Delhi prison occurring on or after the date of its notification. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that this scheme, notified in accordance with the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission, will not only provide timely relief to the affected families under specified circumstances but also further strengthen administrative accountability. This scheme will further strengthen transparency, accountability, human dignity, and the rule of law within the prison administration.