NGO Consultant

NGO Consultant
Odisha NGO Consultancy Services

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Greenpeace India moves Delhi HC over blocked foreign funds

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government's crackdown on foreign funding of NGOs has prompted Greenpeace India to move the Delhi High Court, seeking directions to the government for release of foreign contribution to the tune of Rs 1.87 crore.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru on Wednesday issued notice to the home ministry, asking it to keep the frozen foreign donations as "interest-earning fixed deposit" till further orders. The court also asked the ministry if the foreign contribution of Euros 23, 5000 (Rs 1.87 crore) to the NGO could be allowed to be credited in its account with the IDBI bank in Chennai.

"The money will be kept in interest-earning fixed deposit account with the Respondent no. 2 (IDBI Bank Limited), till further orders of this court," Justice Bakhru said and fixed October 10 as the next date of hearing.

Soon after BJP took over the reins of the government, the Intelligence Bureau recommended cancellation of permission given to 'Greenpeace' alleging that the Indian-arm of the international NGO has been collecting funds from abroad.

In its plea Greenpeace India alleged that the Centre blocked the money "without any rhyme or reason and without complying with the provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)". It highlighted how the MHA directed the RBI to take prior permission of the ministry's FCRA department before clearing any foreign aid to 'Greenpeace' from Greenpeace International and Climate Works.

This June 13 directive put on hold direct funding of the NGO from abroad since each transaction has to be cleared on a case-to-case basis by RBI. Greenpeace said the petition has been filed against the "un-communicated and illegal prohibition imposed by the MHA in not allowing credit of the foreign funds in the petitioner's FCRA Bank Account...in IDBI Bank Ltd, Chennai".

Its counsel said the NGO gave a representation on July 17 asking for the relevant documents on the basis of which such "illegal" prohibitory action has been taken, but no document has been given so far.

"The Centre has also not given any reply to the said representation," the counsel contended adding that "through a clandestine method, which is unknown to the rule of law, the government cannot adversely affect the rights of Greenpeace and in abuse of the powers, cripple the activities of Greenpeace, which has been protecting the environment/ecology...."

It said around 60 per cent of the funds are generated from domestic donations with the remaining coming from foreign contributors, mainly from Greenpeace International (GPI) based in Amsterdam.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Greenpeace-India-moves-Delhi-HC-over-blocked-foreign-funds/articleshow/41653712.cms