Centre extends Punjab prison law to Chandigarh
The Union Home Ministry has introduced new rules for prisoner transfers and security in the Union Territory.
The Union Home Ministry issued a notification on Friday extending the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2026, to Chandigarh, according to reports by Deccan Chronicle and Daily Excelsior. The legislation was extended under Section 87 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, with modifications to fit the administrative structure of the Union Territory.
Under the new provisions, prisoners serving sentences or death penalties in Chandigarh may be moved to other states or Union Territories if the relevant governments consent. The rules also allow for the transfer of prisoners from other regions into Chandigarh. For undertrial prisoners, transfers for reasons of public interest, security, or law and order require both government consent and approval from the pending trial court.
The notification introduces security measures regarding aerial objects, requiring a no-fly zone that extends 500 metres beyond the prison perimeter. Any operation of aerial objects in these zones must have prior approval from the prison department and permission from civil aviation authorities.
The law also mandates regular training for prison personnel to ensure they understand how to assist and respect the rights of inmates with disabilities. Additionally, the Chandigarh-specific rules define a habitual offender as someone convicted and sentenced more than twice for different offences within a continuous five-year period, excluding time spent in detention.