Gujarat to grant 15-day Diwali parole to 143 prisoners
The parole facility, which begins on November 6, includes 40 women and 103 male prisoners aged 60 or above.
The Gujarat government will grant 15 days of parole to 143 prisoners across the state to celebrate Diwali with their families, according to reports by The Hawk and The Times of India. The parole period is scheduled to begin on Dhanteras, November 6.
The group of eligible inmates consists of 40 women and 103 male prisoners aged 60 years or older. This initiative is part of the state's prisoner welfare and prison reform programmes overseen by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
The state has provided this annual 15-day parole to eligible elderly and female inmates since 2003. Officials stated the arrangement is intended to let eligible prisoners observe the festival with their families while meeting specific requirements.
Director General of Police (Gujarat Prisons and Correctional Department) Dr K L N Rao said that those convicted of serious offences do not qualify for the concession. Excluded categories include prisoners with pending High Court appeals, non-resident Indian (NRI) prisoners, and inmates from other states.
Ineligible individuals also include those serving sentences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
The government is also excluding prisoners involved in terrorist activities, those whose actions harm the state economy, and repeat offenders. Those convicted of crimes such as rape, kidnapping, robbery, dacoity, theft, extortion, or those under preventive detention orders are also barred from the facility.