Gujarat government grants 15-day Diwali parole to 143 eligible prisoners
The approved parole will allow 103 male inmates over 60 and 40 women to celebrate the festival with their families.
The Gujarat government has sanctioned 15-day Diwali parole for 143 eligible inmates across various state jails, according to reports from India Today, Hindustan Times and ANI.
The release is scheduled to begin on November 6, the occasion of Dhanteras, under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
The group of beneficiaries includes 103 male prisoners aged above 60 years and 40 women prisoners.
This annual initiative, which has been in place since 2003, is part of the state's prisoner welfare and prison reform programmes.
Director General of Police (Prisons) K L N Rao stated that prisoners convicted of serious offences are not eligible for this benefit.
Exclusions include inmates with pending High Court appeals, NRI prisoners, and those from other states.
Those serving sentences under the NDPS Act, POTA, or TADA are also barred, as are prisoners involved in terrorism or economic crimes.
The scheme also excludes individuals convicted of multiple offences or serious crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, theft, extortion, dacoity, or rape.