SC pulls up Centre for denying FCRA renewal

The Supreme Court on Friday cautioned the Union government against harassing nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and pulled up the Centre for refusing to renew the registration of two such organisations under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) on what it termed as “technical grounds”.

- Utkarsh Anand

A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the Centre’s special leave petition against a June judgment of the Madras high court, which had quashed communications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) refusing renewal of registration to two sister NGOs. The high court had directed the authorities to complete the renewal process within four weeks, holding that the denial was based only on minor procedural lapses without any evidence of misuse or diversion of foreign funds.

“When they are doing some social service, what is your problem?” the bench asked Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave, who appeared for the Union government. “You have your checks and monitor their receipts and expenses, but how can you shut them? Have they bungled any funds? Is there any evidence of malpractice?” it asked the law officer.