People's Union for Civil Liberties

People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) is a human rights body formed in India in 1976 by socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, as the People's Union for Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights (PUCLDR).

Background

Indian emergency

Jayaprakash Narayan was a Gandhian leader in India after independence. When Indira Gandhi was found guilty of violating electoral laws by the Allahabad High Court, Narayan called for Indira to resign, and advocated a program of social transformation. He asked the military and police to disregard unconstitutional and immoral orders. However, Janata Party opposition leaders and dissenting members of her party, Congress (I) were arrested, beginning The Emergency. Narayan was detained at Chandigarh, and when released in 1976, formed the PUCL to oppose the suppression of civil and political rights during the emergency. The organization was thrown into disarray by his death and the election of the Janata party to power, which promised to enact the PUCL platform.

Plutonium(III) chloride

Plutonium(III) chloride is the chemical compound with the formula PuCl₃. It can be prepared by dissolving the metal in hydrochloric acid.

Structure

Plutonium atoms in crystalline PuCl₃ are 9 coordinate, and the structure is tricapped trigonal prismatic.

Safety

As with all plutonium compounds, it is subject to control under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Due to the radioactivity of plutonium, all of its compounds, PuCl₃ included, are warm to the touch. Such contact is not recommended, since touching the material may result in serious injury.

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