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Greenpeace India accused of violating norms

Last Updated 04 September 2015, 19:28 IST

After cancelling permission for collecting foreign funds, the Centre has accused Greenpeace India of violating rules by utilising foreign funds worth Rs 5.59 crore from its accounts without prior approval.

The fresh claims came in an order issued by the Union Home Ministry rejecting the NGO’s pending application seeking permission to spend 25 per cent of unutilised foreign funds as per the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules (FCRR) 2011.

The order was issued simultaneously with the order cancelling Greenpeace India’s FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010) registration.

On May 12, a month after the suspension of its registration, the NGO approached the ministry seeking the release of 25 per cent unutilised foreign funds for “declared aims and objectives for which the foreign contribution was received”.

It also approached Delhi High Court and the latter asked the government to process the request but gave it the “liberty to obtain necessary information” from the NGO.

In its order, the ministry said Greenpeace India “already liquidated and utilised” Rs 5.59 crore, which is “much more than 25 per cent of unutilised money” allowed to be used by an NGO whose registration to receive foreign funds has been suspended.

It also said the NGO violated the high court order as it was supposed to seek the government’s permission for utilising 25 per cent of its unutilised foreign funds.

After examining “available records”, the ministry found that it had “already liquidated and utilised the fixed deposit for Rs 5,59,79,924 without seeking the approval” of the ministry and in “violation” of Delhi High Court's order”.

The ministry said the NGO did not “respond” to its communication seeking details. It had first sought details from the NGO on May 21 for release of funds, a week before the high court’s order. Following the court order, it again asked to provide details on June 10 but the NGO “did not” respond.

With no response from the NGO, the order said, it checked “all the available records and facts” keeping in view court direction and various provisions of FCRA 2010 and FCRR 2011 and decided to reject the application.

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(Published 04 September 2015, 19:28 IST)

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