Odisha formulates rules to provide compensation for prison deaths

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today approved a proposal to provide compensation to the next of the kin of prisoners who die inside the jails in the state.

Earlier, there was no statutory provision for payment of compensation to the next of the kin on account of death of prisoners in jails of Odisha. Such compensation was being granted as per the recommendations of the NHRC, said Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra.

While dealing with a case, the Orissa High Court had observed that a system or scheme should be put in place for payment of compensation for death of prisoners in custody. The NHRC had also requested the state government to formulate a policy for payment of compensation to the next of kin on account of death of prisoners in jails.

The state government has accepted the suggestions and formulated the Death of Prisoners in the Jails of Odisha Rules, 2023 to provide compensation to the next of kin of persons who die in jail custody, said the Chief Secretary.