Press Statements
PUCL condemns the brutal clampdown on peaceful protest in Delhi and across the country, the assault on MP John Brittas and student leaders, and the mass detention of thousands
11 Oct, 2026A Government at War with its Own Citizens “Organised, non-violent protest marches were a key weapon in the struggle for Independence, and the right to peaceful protest is now recognised as a fundamental right in the Constitution.” — Supreme Court, Anita Thakur v. Govt. of J&K (2016) PUCL strongly condemns the calculated...
PUCL condemns the continuing arrests of Dalit-Adivasi leaders and activists opposing the Vedanta mine in Sijimali
21 Oct, 2026PUCL condemns the arrest of Dr. Randall Sequeira and Laxman Naik from Bhawanipatna on the night of 16 October 2026. Theirs is the latest in a series of arrests of Dalit-Adivasi leaders and activists of the movements opposing Vedanta’s bauxite mine at Sijimali (referred to as Tijmali by local residents) in Rayagada and Kalaha...
PUCL Condemns Sexual Assault of Women Journalists and Attacks on All Journalists; Demands Immediate Action Against Police Officers
08 Oct, 2026PUCL is shocked at reports of sexual assault of women journalists and of physical assault and harassment of journalists covering the ongoing protests against the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi. PUCL condemns the attacks and deplores the FIRs lodged against journalists who protested the assault. According to the testimony of ...
PUCL Delhi urges Election Commission to take urgent, concrete measures against hate speech
18 Sep, 2026The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Delhi, has written to Chief Election Commissioner Mr. Gyanesh Kumar, calling on the Election Commission of India to take immediate steps to prevent, monitor and respond to hate speech targeting minority communities, Dalits and other vulnerable groups during the upcoming Legislative ...
PUCL demands the immediate removal of the Chief Election Commissioner and the restoration of all deleted names in the SIR!
25 Sep, 2026An investigation published on 23rd September by The Indian Express has confirmed what opposition parties and civil society groups have alleged for over a year: the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the largest and most consequential overhaul of India’s voter lists in independent history, is not a technical exercise...
PUCL Condemns Attempt to Tar TM Krishna as a Naxalite
22 Sep, 2026The PUCL takes strong objection to the remark by the Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta made today in the SC during the hearing of the SLP filed by T.M. Krishna challenging the amendment to the Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act giving ‘National Song’ the same protection as the ‘National Anthem’,...
Statement on the Mob Attack on a Peaceful Reading Assembly at AUDA Garden, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad
28 Aug, 2026The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Gujarat strongly condemns the Bajrang Dal-VHP assault on a silent book-reading event in Ahmedabad on August 27. On the evening of 27 August 2026, an armed mob of 45 to 50 men attacked a peaceful, silent reading assembly of approximately 50 students, citizens, and youth at AUDA Garde...
PUCL Condemns Death Sentence to 10 Convicts in Jhiram Valley Case; Calls it Unjust, Disproportionate and a Setback to Peace in Bastar
16 Sep, 2026(Click here to read the statement in Hindi.) PUCL Chhattisgarh expresses deep concern and anguish over the death sentence awarded today by the Special NIA Court, Jagdalpur, to 10 convicts in the 2013 Jhiram Valley attack case. While PUCL has consistently taken a principled position against political violence in all its forms and u...
PUCL Rajasthan urges the Chief Justice of India to intervene to safeguard judicial integrity, and demands the immediate appointment of a regular Chief Justice to the Rajasthan High Court
02 Sep, 2026The People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Rajasthan, views with the gravest concern the allegations levelled against Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, by Justice Sandeep Mehta of the Supreme Court of India. In three letters dated 2, 10 and 17 August 2026 addressed to the Chief Ju...
Immediately Arrest Those Accused of Attacking CJP Activists in Rampura urf Kanwarpura
21 Aug, 2026Strict Action and suspension against Shivdaspura SHO and ACP for Dereliction of Duty Immediately Repair the Dilapidated Primary School at Rampura urf Kanwarpura and Ensure Its Regular Functioning Withdraw the Order Restricting Entry, Photography and Videography in Schools The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Rajasthan,...