Delhi notifies compensation scheme for unnatural deaths of prison inmates
The Delhi government has introduced a compensation scheme providing up to ₹7.5 lakh to families of inmates who die in prison under unnatural circumstances. The policy aims to increase administrative accountability and provide relief in cases of negligence or assault.
Why it matters
This policy addresses human rights concerns within the prison system and establishes a formal mechanism for state accountability regarding custodial deaths.
Family members of inmates who die in prisons in the national capital under unnatural circumstances will be eligible for compensation of up to ₹7.5 lakh under a scheme notified by the Delhi government, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Sunday (August 3, 2026).
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the scheme, notified in accordance with the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), would ensure timely relief to affected families in specified cases while further strengthening administrative accountability.
The Scheme for Payment of Compensation on Account of Death of Prisoners in Delhi Prison, 2025, will apply only to cases involving the unnatural death of a prisoner in any Delhi prison on or after the date of its notification.
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