2 NGOs move HC challenging govt’s decision to cancel FCRA registration
In one of the pleas, brought by CPSC, the HC asks the Centre to provide reasons for refusal to renew the registration under the FCRA Act
New Delhi: Two non-governmental organizations approached the Delhi high court on Monday challenging the Centre’s decision to cancel their foreign funding registration.
In one of the pleas, brought by Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (CPSC), a charitable trust, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva issued notice and asked the Centre to provide in a sealed cover, the reasons for refusal to renew their registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010.
The other petition, brought by Delhi-based NGO, Learning Matters Foundation, the judge sought to be recused and transferred the matter to be heard by a different bench.
During the hearing, Anil Soni, on behalf of the Centre, told the court that it was not expected to provide reasons for decisions and the renewal was denied based on inputs from intelligence agencies.
Also Read: FCRA licence renewals withheld for 11,000 NGOs
CPCS has sought quashing of the impugned order of 29 October, by which the application for renewal of registration under FCRA had been rejected by the Centre. Its FCRA registration was set to expire on 31 October.
It has been contended that it is the mandate of the Centre under provisions of the FCRA Act, to renew the registration certificate within 90 days from application and if it does not do so, it has to communicate the reasons for any rejection— none of which were done by the Centre.
The delay beyond 90 days in deciding the application for renewal has been claimed to be unjust as no reasons for delay have been communicated by the Centre. The trust contended that this may lead to a complete halt of its charitable activities and is likely to affect a large number of people.
The matter will be next heard on 18 November.
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