A policy has been framed for paying a compensation of ₹7.5 lakh to the next of kin of the prisoners in case of unnatural death of prisoner due to a quarrel among prisoners, and ₹5 lakh in case of other unnatural deaths, including suicide, within the prisons, the High Court of Karnataka was informed on Thursday.
The policy was framed on the directions issued by the apex court and the High Court, which had in 2017 initiated a suo motu PIL on the apex court’s orders to ensure that the State government formulated a scheme to identify prisoners who died unnaturally while in prison since 2012, identify the next of kin of deceased prisoners, and pay reasonable compensation to them.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale and Justice Krishna S. Dixit, which took note of the policy, framed in October 2022, disposed of the petition while observing that the government had appropriately addressed and redressed the grievances raised in the petition.
