Greenpeace violated norms: Centre to HC

HC said Greenpeace violated norms by opening five accounts to utilise foreign donations without informing relevant authorities.

The Centre on Tuesday defended its decision to suspend Greenpeace India’s’s registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) before the Delhi High Court, saying the NGO had violated norms by opening five accounts to utilise foreign donations without informing relevant authorities.

The Home Ministry, in an affidavit before Justice Rajiv Shakdher, also accused Greenpeace of violating the FCRA by merging foreign donations with domestic contributions.

The ministry told the court that as far as releasing funds for the NGO’s day-to-day expenses was concerned, “statutory remedy is available under Rule 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules (FCRR) which provides that 25 per cent of the unutilised amount in the FCRA account can be used with government approval.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain said Greenpeace has applied for benefits under Rule 14, which has not been disclosed to the court. He said the NGO was not using the donations for the purpose for which they had been received.

Source- Indian Express