Payment of compensation on the death of prisoners

REGD. No. D. L.-33002/99 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Delhi Gazette SG-DL-E-05082026-275201 EXTRAORDINARY PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 217] DELHI, TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2026/SHRAVAN 13,1948 [N. C. T. D. No. 147 PART IV GOVERNMENT OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI 6018 DG/2026 HOME (GENERAL) DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION Delhi, the 3rd August, 2026 F. No. 15/07/2024/Home(G)/7272-7280.—"In pursuance of the directions issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) vide communication dated 06.09.2023 regarding formulation of policy for payment of compensation in cases of custodial deaths, the Lt. Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi is pleased to notify the scheme for payment of compensation on account of death of prisoners confined in the jails of Delhi." 1. Short title and commencement: This scheme shall be called "Scheme for payment of compensation on account of death of prisoners in Delhi Prison, 2025" 2. It shall come into force on the date of its publication in Delhi Gazette. 3. This scheme shall be applicable only in respect of those prisoner(s) who suffer unnatural death in the jails of Delhi on or after the date of notification of this scheme. 4. The compensation shall be paid in the event of death of prisoner while in custody in any jail within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. 5. Compensation will not be admissible in cases of natural deaths including death due to illness. 6. Compensation will not be admissible in the following cases of unnatural deaths: - (i) If the death occurs during escape from jails or from lawful custody outside the jails. (ii) If the death occurs due to disaster/calamity. 7. Compensation will be paid to the next of kin or legal heirs of prisoners on account of unnatural deaths as mentioned in the table given below:- +-----+--------------------------------------------------+----------------+ | S No| Category | Amount to be paid| +=====+==================================================+================+ | (i) | Due to quarrel among prisoner | Rs 7.5 Lakh | +-----+--------------------------------------------------+----------------+ | (ii)| Due to torture/beating by Prison staff | Rs 7.5 Lakh | +-----+--------------------------------------------------+----------------+ | (iii)| Due to negligence in duty by Prison Officers/Officials | Rs 5.0 Lakh | +-----+--------------------------------------------------+----------------+ | (iv)| Due to negligence by Medical/Para Medical Officers/Officials | Rs 5.0 Lakh | +-----+--------------------------------------------------+----------------+ | (v) | Due to suicide committed by prisoners | Rs 5.0 Lakh | +-----+--------------------------------------------------+----------------+ 8. The Superintendent of the Jail concerned shall send a detailed report along with a copy of the Magisterial Inquiry Report, Post-Mortem Report, final cause of death, medical history at the time of admission in jail and details of medical treatment, if any, given to the prisoner, prior to his custodial death, to the Director General of Prisons, Delhi. 9. Simultaneously, based on the above report the Compensation amount (if any) will be released to the next of kin as recommended by the Committee headed by DG (Prisons) including AIG (Delhi Prisons), RMO (Delhi Prisons), DCA (Delhi Prisons) and Law Officer (Delhi Prisons). The above Committee shall meet to consider cases of custodial death at least once in a quarter or as depending on the exigencies. 10. Once the compensation has been recommended by the Committee headed by DG (Prisons) to the next of kin of deceased in accordance with the policy, a proposal shall be sent to the Administrative Secretary of the Department, GNCT of Delhi for approval of compensation. 11. Once, compensation is disbursed to the next of kin of deceased, the concerned Jail Superintendent shall inform the National Human Rights Commission of the same. By Order and in the Name of Lt. Governor Of The National Capital Territory of Delhi, BHOOP SINGH, Dy. Secy. (Home) Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.