Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has approved 15-day parole for 143 eligible prisoners lodged in jails across the state, allowing them to celebrate Diwali with their families. The temporary release will begin on November 6, coinciding with Dhanteras.
The decision has been taken as part of the state’s prison welfare and reform initiatives, under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
Of the 143 prisoners approved for parole, 103 are male inmates aged 60 years or above, while 40 are women prisoners.
Diwali Parole Policy in Gujarat Since 2003
The Gujarat government has been extending a special 15-day parole facility during Diwali every year since 2003. Under this arrangement, eligible women prisoners and male prisoners aged 60 years or above are allowed temporary release to spend the festival with their families.
The initiative is intended to give eligible inmates an opportunity to maintain family connections and participate in important family occasions while serving their sentences.
This year’s approval covers prisoners serving sentences in different jails across Gujarat. The parole period will commence on November 6, 2026.
Who Is Eligible for Diwali Parole?
The annual facility is extended to two broad categories of prisoners, subject to the prescribed conditions:
- Male prisoners: Eligible inmates aged 60 years or above.
- Female prisoners: Women inmates who meet the state’s eligibility requirements.
This year, 103 elderly male prisoners and 40 female prisoners have been approved for the benefit.
Which Prisoners Are Not Eligible?
According to Dr K. L. N. Rao, Director General of Police (Gujarat Prisons and Correctional Department), prisoners involved in serious offences and those falling under specified exclusion categories are not eligible for the special Diwali parole.
The excluded categories include:
- Prisoners whose appeals are pending before the High Court.
- Non-Resident Indian (NRI) prisoners and inmates belonging to other states.
- Prisoners 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).
- Prisoners involved in terrorist activities or activities considered detrimental to the state’s economy.
- Inmates convicted in more than one offence.
- Prisoners convicted of serious offences such as rape, kidnapping, robbery, dacoity, theft and extortion.
- Prisoners against whom preventive detention orders are in force.
The exclusions are intended to ensure that the temporary release facility remains restricted to prisoners who meet the government’s prescribed eligibility conditions.
Annual Prisoner Welfare Initiative
The Diwali parole arrangement forms part of Gujarat’s continuing prisoner welfare measures. By allowing eligible inmates to spend a limited period with their families, the initiative provides an opportunity to maintain social and family ties during incarceration.
With 143 prisoners approved for release this year, the state is continuing a practice that has been followed during the Diwali festival for more than two decades.
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