People’s Union for Democratic Rights

A civil liberties and democratic rights organisation based in Delhi, India

The civil rights movement in India has emerged as an autonomous voice in defense of civil liberties and democratic rights of our people. The Peoples Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi, is one such organisation. It came into existence in 1977 as the Delhi unit of a larger national forum, PUCLDR, and became PUDR on 1 February, 1981.

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“Close to the one-year anniversary of violence in Nuh district, Haryana, PUDR released its report on ongoing state repression in the aftermath of July 31, 2023. Justice Madan Lokur (retd., Supreme Court) and Professor Manoranjan Mohanty (retd., Delhi University) launched “In the wake of Nuh: A report on state repression” on July 29, 2024 at Press Club of India.

Justice Lokur emphasised the importance of civil society reports like PUDR’s to archive incidents like Nuh, particularly when there is no judicial inquiry. Professor Mohanty highlighted the new face of communalised state repression that incidents like Nuh represent.”

Latest Publications

A Long Battle for Justice

Workers of Bellsonica Auto Component India Private Limited at the Industrial Model Township (IMT) Manesar in the National Capital Region of India have been sitting on relay hunger strike outside their factory since 4 May 2023, protesting against the spate of recent...

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37th Annual Ramanadham Memoria Lecture 2022: Digitization, Science and Criminal Investigation: Concerns for Democratic Rights

Every year PUDR organizes a Dr Ramanadham memorial lecture on a topic of contemporary interest. Last year it was Urban Planning and Democratic Rights. The year before that it was on Judiciary and Democratic Rights. In 2008 the topic of the 22nd Ramanadham memorial...

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Latest Press Statements

पीयूडीआर की रिपोर्ट “नूह में संप्रदायिक हिंसा और पुलिस दमन: एक जाँच रिपोर्ट” का विमोचन

22 जुलाई, 2024 को, हरियाणा के नूह जिले से चौथी वार्षिक ब्रजमंडल अभिषेक यात्रा शांतिपूर्ण तरीके से गुजरी। पिछले साल, इसी यात्रा में हिंसा हुई थी, जिसके बाद राज्य दमन हुआ था, जिसकी छाया आज भी बनी हुई है। 29 जुलाई, 2024 एक प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस में, पीपुल्स यूनियन फॉर...

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Gautam Navlakha’s letter on release from custody

I wish to thank the Supreme Court for upholding the bail granted to me by the Bombay High Court. It proved to be a long wait but well worth it. Although happy for myself, I am saddened that the fate of scores of fellow dissidents implicated in a variety of cases,...

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हिरासत से रिहा होने पर गौतम नवलखा का पत्र

विचाराधीन कैदियों के परिवार  संभवतः अधिक कष्ट में रहते हैं क्योंकि उनके प्रिय जेल में हैं और इससे उनकी ज़िन्दगी बहुत  गहरा प्रभाव पड़ता है. यह एक ऐसा यथार्थ है जिसे शायद ही रेखांकित किया जाता है और इसका समाधान तो दुर्लभ ही होता है. एक 'जनतांत्रिक अधिकार कार्यकर्ता' होने...

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PUDR welcomes the release of NewsClick editor Prabir Purkayastha and the long overdue reminder to law enforcing agencies to respect constitutionally guaranteed rights.

People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) welcomes the Supreme Court judgment of May 15, 2024, ordering the release of Prabir Purkayastha in a case of wrongful arrest under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), made by the Special Cell of the Delhi...

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