Greenpeace violated FCRA: Centre tells Delhi HC

The organisation had faced a host of other charges for which it had approached the court.

The Central Government on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that Greenpeace India violated the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by merging its foreign donations with domestic ones.

This was in response to a court notice that asked the government whether the global NGO could use its domestic bank accounts for its day-today operations and payment of salaries to its domestic staff. 

Greenpeace had filed the plea against the cancellation of its registration, saying it was facing imminent shut-down and it had barely a month to survive with the government freezing its accounts over allegations of foreign funding that were specifically meant to target India’s economic and development interests.

The organisation had faced a host of other penalties for which it had approached the court. 

The government had suspended Greenpeace India’s license for six months and barred it from receiving foreign funds. It had also issued a notice to them to show cause as to why it should not be shut down permanently.