Maharashtra Introduces Statewide Compensation Policy for Custodial Deaths

The policy provides financial relief to families of prisoners who die unnaturally in custody, with strict accountability measures for officials.

The Maharashtra government has approved a policy offering Rs 5 lakh compensation for custodial deaths caused by negligence, violence, or accidents, and Rs 1 lakh for suicides in prison.
Natural deaths due to old age, chronic illness, or deaths while on bail are excluded from compensation, but deaths from natural calamities remain covered under existing rules.
The policy mandates thorough investigations, requiring jail superintendents to submit detailed reports reviewed at multiple administrative levels before compensation is granted.
The initiative follows directives from the State Human Rights Commission to address recurring custodial deaths and prevent families from pursuing legal action for compensation.
The policy, now officially announced, will be uniformly implemented across all prisons in Maharashtra, with provisions to hold officials accountable for negligence or misconduct.