The Delhi government has unveiled a special remission scheme for eligible prisoners to commemorate Republic Day 2026, aiming to provide sentence reductions based on specific categories and conditions. This initiative, announced on Sunday, applies to convicts sentenced by courts in the capital and lodged in central jails within or outside the National Capital Territory, provided they are serving their sentences on January 26, 2026, and meet the government's outlined criteria.
Remission Details and Eligibility Criteria
According to the government statement, the remission amounts vary depending on the length of the sentence. Women prisoners and those aged above 65 years who are sentenced to more than 10 years will be eligible for a 90-day remission. For sentences ranging from five to 10 years, prisoners will receive 60 days of remission. Those sentenced to one to five years will get 30 days, and prisoners with sentences up to one year will benefit from 20 days of remission. For other categories, the remission will range from 15 to 60 days, based on the sentence duration.
Inclusion of Parole and Furlough Cases
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood emphasized that convicts who are on parole or furlough as of January 26, 2026, shall also be eligible for this special remission, provided no misconduct has been reported during that period. However, the benefit will only be granted to those convicts who have not been punished for any jail offence in the preceding year, from January 26, 2025, to January 25, 2026.
Exclusions and Legal Provisions
The special remission excludes certain categories of convicts to ensure public safety and adherence to legal standards. These exclusions include prisoners sentenced to death, those convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and other specified laws. Additionally, prisoners punished for jail offences in the past year are not eligible.
Further exclusions cover cases under exception categories notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, such as offences related to subjects in the Union List of the Constitution. Prisoners awarded death sentences or those whose death sentences have been commuted to life imprisonment, detenues, civil prisoners, or individuals imprisoned for evasion of government dues are also excluded. This extends to those convicted by court-martial, for contempt of court, or for offences against women under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and under the Negotiable Instruments Act and other specified civil offences.
Commitment to Reformative Justice
Ashish Sood stated that the Delhi government remains committed to the principles of reformative justice, while ensuring strict adherence to constitutional and legal provisions. This special remission is in addition to the regular remission available under the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, highlighting the government's focus on rehabilitation and fairness within the judicial system.
