Diwali Parole for 143 Gujarat Inmates, 40 of Them Women

Gandhinagar, November 1

Gujarat has approved 15-day Diwali parole for 143 inmates, allowing them to spend the festival with their families. Of these, 40 are women and 103 are men aged 60 years or above. The parole will begin on November 6, the day of Dhanteras.

The state government said the decision forms part of its broader prisoner welfare and jail reform efforts. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi is overseeing these initiatives.

A Policy Dating Back to 2003

Eligible prisoners have received 15-day parole during Diwali every year since 2003. The policy extends the benefit to women prisoners and to male prisoners aged 60 or older, giving them a chance to celebrate the festival at home.

Restrictions Under the Rules

Dr. K.L.N. Rao, Director General of Police (Gujarat Jails and Correctional Administration Department), explained that state government rules bar prisoners convicted of serious crimes from receiving Diwali parole.

Among those excluded are prisoners with pending High Court appeals, NRI prisoners, and inmates from other states. Those serving sentences under the NDPS Act, TADA, or POTA are not eligible either.

The facility is also unavailable to prisoners linked to terrorist activities or to those who have harmed the state's economy. Individuals convicted of more than one offence, and those found guilty of rape, kidnapping, robbery, dacoity, theft, or extortion, are excluded. Prisoners under preventive detention orders will not receive the benefit.

Officials said the annual parole system is intended to let eligible prisoners observe the festival with their families while following the prescribed conditions.