Why does Gujarat govt grant 15 days of festival parole every Diwali since 2003?
New Delhi: Dozens of jail inmates across Gujarat will get to celebrate Diwali at home with their families this year after the state government approved a 15-day temporary release for eligible convicts.
The relief comes under the state’s ongoing prisoner welfare initiatives and broader jail reform programme. Following the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, the administration cleared festival parole for 143 convicts lodged in various correctional facilities across Gujarat. The temporary release period is scheduled to begin on Dhanteras, 6 November 2026.
The practice of offering a short festival reprieve is not new in the state. Gujarat has been granting 15 days of parole every year during Diwali since 2003, primarily focusing on female inmates and senior citizens so they can spend festive occasions in the company of their kin.
Who qualifies for the 15-day festival release
Among the 143 prisoners cleared for release this season, 103 are male inmates aged 60 or above, while 40 are female prisoners. The policy is designed specifically to benefit senior and women convicts whose track record during incarceration meets the state’s eligibility criteria.
Authorities have emphasised that the move aims to support emotional well-being and maintain family ties during major cultural celebrations, without compromising community safety.
Serious offenders strictly excluded from relief
The administration has made it clear that the festive concession does not apply to everyone behind bars. Outlining the statutory safeguards, Dr K L N Rao, Director General of Police for the Gujarat Prisons and Correctional Department, said that under state government rules, prisoners involved in serious offences are not eligible for Diwali parole.
According to the rules laid down by the department, convicts with matters pending before the High Court, non-resident Indians, and prisoners hailing from other states cannot avail of this benefit.
Inmates sentenced under stringent laws such as the NDPS Act, TADA, and POTA, as well as those linked to terror plots or acts detrimental to the economy, remain strictly excluded. The bar also applies to repeat offenders, individuals under preventive detention orders, and anyone serving sentences for grave crimes including rape, kidnapping, robbery, dacoity, theft, and extortion.