TN cancels Greenpeace India's registration

The Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies has cancelled the registration of environmental watchdog Greenpeace India as a society.

The order stated that there is discrepancy between the account details of foreign donations furnished by Greenpeace India to the Central government and the details furnished in the annual reports submitted to the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies (TNROS).

Listing out the funds received by Greenpeace since 2005-2006 to 2011-2012, the TNROS said different amounts were shown in the report submitted to different authorities.

“This is seen as fraudulent activities of the society,” the order stated. “I am satisfied that Greenpeace India Society has contravened the provisions of the law and it has slipped into the domain of Section 37 of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, warranting the registrar to cancel the registration of that society,” said Chennai District Registrar in-charge U Shanmugasundaram.

However, if Greenpeace India Society feels aggrieved by this order, under Section 45(1) of the Act it can appeal to the Inspector General of Registration, he added.

Reacting to the order, Greenpeace India said that it would fight the battle legally. “We are confident that we are on strong legal ground. We have faith in the legal process and are confident of overcoming this order,” said Greenpeace India interim executive director Vinuta Gopal.

“The Registrar of Societies is clearly acting under directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has been trying to shut Greenpeace India down for over a year now,” said Vinuta.