PANAJI
The State government has notified that it will provide compensation to the next kin of deceased prisoners, who die unnatural death in prisons including suicide and medical negligence.
As per the Goa Prisons (First Amendment) Rules, 2023, the compensation will not be admissible in case of natural death including due to illness and also in case of death occurred due to natural disaster or calamity and while escaping from jail or from lawful custody.
According to the amendment, Rs 5 lakh will be paid to the kin of the deceased prisoner in case of death due to medical negligence or due to injury by any correctional home employee.
Rs four lakh would be paid to the kin in case of prisoner’s death due to quarrel among prisoners and Rs 3 lakh in case of suicidal death, self-injury or any other reasons.
The Home Department has informed that the compensation will be provided based on the report submitted by the Superintendent of Jail concerned. The report will include a copy of the magisterial enquiry, postmortem report, final cause of death, medical history at the time of admission in jail and details of medical treatment, if any, given to the prisoner prior to his custodial death.
The report will be submitted to the Inspector General of Prisons for onward submission to the Government for grant of appropriate compensation.
