People’s Union of Civil Liberties aims to bring together all those who are committed to the defence and promotion of civil liberties in India, irrespective of any differences which they may have in regard to political and economic institutions suitable for the country. PUCL strives to uphold and promote by peaceful means civil liberties and the democratic way of life throughout India.
14 Jul 2024
Read PUCL’s critique of the three new Criminal Laws now!
A careful scrutiny of the three new laws passed in December, 2023 – the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) – reveals a concerted attempt to, weaponise the law by criminalising ordinary acts of democratic and peaceful means, systematically dismantle the key element of criminal jurisprudence such as the `presumption of innocence’ and the `right to free and fair trial’ and to centralise powers of the police, providing immunity and ensuring `impunity’ of police and state officials.
West Bengal CM’s call for Death Penalty for Rapists Is Politics of Revenge! A step backwards for Human Rights!
Condemn the illegal arrest and detention of Sunita Pottam, .
PUCL Announcement regarding Constituting an `Independent Cit.
48 years since the Emergency
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National Campaign to Defend Democracy
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Human rights violations are not just stray or accidental incidents of police brutality or state excess; rather they have become widespread, systemic, and institutionalised. In such a climate, the need of the hour is for citizens to unite and reclaim their power to protest, to defend, and to oppose any actions that attack their fundamental human rights.
PUCL is the largest human rights organisation in the country, striving to defend civil liberties and human rights of all members of society.
NATIONAL SEMINARA national seminar was held on October 17, 1976. It was inaugurated by Acharya JB Kripalani. The PUCLDR was a loosely organised group of people who were working with JP. V M Tarkunde was elected President and Krishna Kant General Secretary.
The Emergency was lifted. JANATA PARTY WAS FOUNDED.The Janata Party, formed with blessings of JP, came to power. A very large number of people who had worked with him assumed power at the centre and an impression started floating that now the liberties of the people were secure. The dynamic element in the PUCLDR subsided. Jaya Prakash Narayan died on October 8, 1979, after a prolonged kidney problem.
ORGANISATION RECHRISTENED AS PUCLThe year 1980 saw the return of Indira Gandhi to power. A consensus emerged among civil liberties activists and various political parties that such an organisation should remain non-partisan. The organisation was re-christened as the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). The founding conference, held in November 1980, drafted and adopted the Constitution of the PUCL and made it a membership based organisation, aiming to have branches all over the country. The Constitution laid down that the members of a political party will not have the right to hold any office if they joined the organisation; the number of members, belonging to political parties, in the national or state executive committees shall not be more than 50% of the members of the National Council and the National Executive Committee respectively (and also the corresponding bodies at the state and local level). Not more than 10% shall be members of any single political party.
MEMBERSHIPIn November 1980, a National Convention of civil rights workers converted the People's Union for Civil Liberties into a membership organisation. The National Convention elected Mr. V.M. Tarkunde as President and Mr. Arun Shourie as the General Secretary of PUCL. Since then the PUCL has undertaken work on several fronts-from commencing work towards preparing a new Prisons Act and Jail Manual under the leadership of Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer to agitating on specific issues like the release of trade unionists arrested under the National Security Act in Madhya Pradesh. Most of the effort has been devoted to setting up State and Local Units which alone can effectively pursue specific issues.
Withholding bail amounts to punishment without trial! .
By PUCL Bulletin Editorial Board
Sub-categorisation judgment: A progressive ratio piggybacked.
By Arvind Narrain
Ensure Justice to the RG Kar Hospital deceased doctor NOW! .
By All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA - NAPM)
Letter Petition seeking urgent intervention against the ille.
By PUCL Rajasthan
Process as Punishment: Justice Delayed, Justice Denied - Ope.
By NAJAR: National Alliance for Justice, Accountability & Rights
Sub-categorisation verdict: India needs a reservation model .
By Anand Teltumbde
Five Years After Article 370, J&K Continues to be a Tragic S.
By Anuradha Bhasin
Open Letter to Home Minister - Amend sec. 187(3) BNSS in lin.
By Kavita Srivastava, V. Suresh
Samvidhan Hatya Divas: Theft of Peoples' Memory of a Declare.
By PUCL Bulletin Editorial Board
Turning a De Facto Police Regime to a De Jure Police State: .
By People's Union for Civil Liberties
Complaint to the Deputy Police Commissioner, Bangalore regar.
By PUCL Karnataka, Hate Speech Beda, SWARAJ Abhiyan
The ECI and the 18th Lok Sabha Elections: Fiercely independe.
By PUCL Bulletin Editorial Board
A Captive’s Musings on Freedom: Gautam Navlakha’s Notes .
By Gautam Navlakha
The Trials of Repatriating a Nigerian Survivor of Human Traf.
By Nelson Payoor and Prakriti
Three stories of bail: The resilience of journalists in Dark.
By Arvind Narrain
After NHRC Loses Its UN Links, India Might Lose Vote at Huma.
By Aakar Patel
Imprisoned Resistance - 5th August And Its Aftermath
Imprisoned and Unsafe: Prisoners and the Pandemic
The Double Siege - News Media in the Time of Covid-19
Broken Slates and Blank Screens - Education under a Lockdown.
Criminalizing the Practise of Faith - A report by PUCL Karnataka on Hate Crimes against Christians in Karnataka
UAPA: Criminalising Dissent And State Terror. Study of UAPA Abuse in India, 2009-2022
Closing the Gates to Education, Violations of rights of Muslim women students in Karnataka
Apnon ka Bahut Lagta Hai (Our Own Hurt Us the Most) - Centering Familial Violence in the lives of Queer and Trans Persons in the Marriage Equality Debates
Inciting Disharmony in Educational institutions in Western Maharashtra
Fact finding report on fake Encounter at Pidiya - PUCL Chhattisgarh
Killing Of Three Dalit Youths And Other Atrocities Against Their Families in Sagar District (MP)
In the name of 'Honour' - Violation of the right to intimate and social associations
