As of April 16, 2025, there is no official announcement from the Union Cabinet regarding a nationwide policy for compensating families of prisoners who die under unnatural circumstances in custody. However, several state governments have implemented their own compensation schemes:
- Delhi: The Delhi government has proposed a compensation of ₹7.5 lakh for families of prisoners who die due to unnatural causes in custody. This includes deaths resulting from inmate fights, torture, or negligence by prison staff. The policy excludes cases of suicide, escape attempts, natural causes, or disasters. Additionally, the compensation amount can be recovered from the salaries of prison staff found responsible for such deaths.
- Assam: The Assam cabinet approved a compensation policy where the amount varies based on the cause of death: ₹2 lakh for deaths due to inmate quarrels, ₹3 lakh for deaths due to torture or beating by prison staff, ₹4 lakh for deaths due to negligence by prison or medical staff, and ₹3 lakh for suicides.
- Karnataka: The Karnataka government has framed a policy to pay ₹7.5 lakh in cases of unnatural deaths due to inmate quarrels and ₹5 lakh for other unnatural deaths, including suicides. This policy was formulated following directions from the Supreme Court and Karnataka High Court to ensure compensation for unnatural deaths in prisons since 2012.
These state-level initiatives reflect a growing recognition of the need to address custodial deaths and provide support to the affected families.
Sources