The Gujarat government has sanctioned 15 days of Diwali parole for 143 eligible prisoners lodged in jails across the state, allowing them to celebrate the festival with their families, the state government said on Sunday. The parole will begin on November 6, the day of Dhanteras.

Source: IANS via Hi India

The beneficiaries include 103 male prisoners aged 60 years or above and 40 women prisoners. The decision has been taken as part of the state government's prisoner welfare and prison reform initiatives, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, according to the official release.

Gujarat has granted 15 days of parole to eligible prisoners every year on the occasion of Diwali since 2003. Under the policy, the facility is extended to eligible women prisoners and eligible male prisoners aged 60 years or above.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

Director General of Police (Gujarat Prisons and Correctional Department) Dr K. L. N. Rao said prisoners involved in serious offences are not eligible for Diwali parole under the state government's rules.

Those excluded include prisoners whose appeals are pending before the High Court, non-resident Indian prisoners and prisoners from other states, those serving sentences under the NDPS Act, TADA or POTA, prisoners involved in terrorist activities or offences against the state's economy, those convicted in more than one offence, and prisoners convicted of serious crimes such as rape, kidnapping, robbery, dacoity, theft or extortion, as well as those under preventive detention orders.

The 143 prisoners will be released from November 6 for the 15-day period, after which they must return to their respective jails under the terms of the parole.