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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Remembering Stan Swamy (26 April 1937 – 5 July 2021)

The state persecuted Stan Swamy under the UAPA, a punishment that precipitated his death as an undertrial in judicial custody. Stan Swamy was framed, fettered, and finally forced towards a fatal illness under due process of law called the UAPA. The charges levelled reveal the state’s deep prejudice against an upright activist who spent decades in building and empowering Adivasi rights against historic neglect and exploitation. Stan Swamy’s persecution under the UAPA offers an understanding of how many others have been similarly punished by the state for their dissenting politics.

Prior to his incarceration, Stan Swamy’s failing health was well-known, but he was not granted even medical bail let alone regular bail. The NIA and the prison authorities refused to acknowledge the deterioration that he suffered in prison, and they failed to uphold his rights as a prisoner, a right to decent health care and facilities.

Read: Framed to Die: The Case of Stan Swamy at Framed_to_die.pdf

Latest Press Statements

Lift the casteist ban on APSC!

On 22 May 2015, the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM), a student group namely Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC) was ‘derecognised’ by the Dean of Students following an  advisory note received from the Under Secretary to the Human Resource Development...

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Stop false arrest of Adivasis and threats to rights’ activists and lawyers in Chattisgarh

PUDR strongly condemns IG Bastar, SRP Kalluri’s threat of taking severe action against certain NGOs in Chhattisgarh for allegedly aiding and abetting the Maoists under the guise of helping Adivasis.  At a recent Press Conference he said that many such organisations...

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Latest Publications

नैनीताल तराई: भूमि आन्दोलन और पुलिस दमन

रिपोर्ट नैनीताल जिले में नवम्बर 1988 में ज़मीन को लेकर उपजे विवाद और संघर्ष को पिछले दशकों में सरकारी नीतियों के तहत भूमि आवंटन में हुए अन्यायों और धांधलियों के संदर्भ में सामने रखती है| यह ज़मीन विभाजन से प्रभावित शरणार्थियों और स्वतंत्रता सेनानियों को विभिन्न सरकारी...

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Death In Tihar Jail – A Report

The story of two brothers, one was the resident of Canada, other the allegedly involved in  drug trafficking. Both were picked up by police and remanded to judicial custody. One found dead after nine months and other also found dead a year after his arrest.Wife of one...

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Forgotten Massacres: A Report On Aftermath Of Meerut

In the late 1982, for the fifth time in two decades, Meerut witnessed a major riot between Hindus and Mustims. Report of the time suggest that over a hundred and fifty people were killed. The Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) of Uttar Pradesh actively participated...

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BHEETA MAATI: our soil, our earth, our home: A Report on Baliapal Missile Base and People’s Struggle

The agitation by farmers in Baliapal and Bhograi blocks in Balasore district in Orissa against establishment of a missile test range, the National Test Range (NTR) prompted PUDR to undertake a fact finding. This report published in 1988, and examining the protest of...

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Latest Prison projects

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