Gujarat government grants 15-day Diwali parole to 143 eligible prisoners
The 15-day leave will allow 103 elderly male inmates and 40 female prisoners to celebrate the festival with their families.
The Gujarat government has sanctioned 15-day Diwali parole for 143 eligible inmates in various state jails, according to reports by Hindustan Times and ANI. The decision was made under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi as part of prison reform and welfare programmes.
The parole period will begin on Dhanteras, on November 6, 2026. The group of beneficiaries consists of 40 female prisoners and 103 male prisoners who are aged 60 years or older.
The state government has provided this 15-day annual leave for the Diwali festival since 2003. This policy is intended to give eligible inmates the chance to spend the festival with their family members.
Director General of Police (Gujarat Prisons and Correctional Department) K L N Rao stated that prisoners involved in serious offences are not eligible for this parole. Excluded individuals include those with pending High Court appeals, NRI prisoners, and those from other states.
Other ineligible groups include prisoners serving sentences under the NDPS Act, TADA, and POTA. The exclusion also applies to those involved in terrorist activities, economic crimes, or serious offences such as robbery, kidnapping, rape, theft, and extortion.