Gujarat Grants 15-Day Diwali Parole to 143 Prisoners, Including 40 Women

November 1, 2026

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has approved 15 days of Diwali parole for 143 eligible prisoners across the state, allowing them to celebrate the festival with their families.

The parole period will begin on November 6, coinciding with Dhanteras. The beneficiaries include 103 male prisoners aged 60 years or above and 40 women prisoners serving sentences in different jails across Gujarat.

The decision has been taken as part of the state government’s prisoner welfare and prison reform initiatives under the supervision of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.

The Gujarat government has been following the annual Diwali parole policy since 2003. Under the arrangement, eligible women prisoners and male prisoners aged 60 years or above are given 15 days of parole to spend time with their families during the festival.

Which Prisoners Are Eligible for Diwali Parole?

Director General of Police (Gujarat Prisons and Correctional Department) Dr K L N Rao said the facility is available to prisoners who meet the eligibility conditions prescribed by the state government.

This year’s approved list includes 103 male inmates aged 60 or above and 40 female prisoners. The temporary release is intended to provide eligible inmates an opportunity to celebrate Diwali with their families.

Which Prisoners Are Not Eligible?

The state government has excluded prisoners involved in serious offences from the annual Diwali parole facility.

According to the prison department, the excluded categories include prisoners whose appeals are pending before the High Court, non-resident Indian (NRI) prisoners and inmates belonging to other states.

Prisoners serving sentences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) are also ineligible.

The restrictions further apply to prisoners involved in terrorist activities or activities detrimental to the state’s economy, as well as those convicted in more than one offence.

Inmates convicted of serious crimes, including rape, kidnapping, robbery, dacoity, theft and extortion, will also not receive the benefit. Prisoners against whom preventive detention orders are in force are excluded as well.

The annual arrangement is part of Gujarat’s prison welfare policy, with the government maintaining specific eligibility conditions to ensure that the temporary parole facility remains limited to qualifying prisoners.