Greenpeace to appeal against registration cancellation

Last week Registrar of Societies cancelled the license stating it did not file annual returns

Greenpeace India has decided to appeal against Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies decision to cancel the registration of Greenpeace India Society, the environmental NGO.

Last week, Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies has cancelled the registration of the NGO alleging irregularities and violations of rules.

The Registrar, in his cancellation letter alleged that for the year 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2009-10, The Green Peace India Society has not filed the annual returns within the stipulate time of six months from the date of Annual General Body meeting, in violation of Rule 22 of Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Rule 1978, read with Section 16(3)(b) of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act 1975 and on the inspection by the Registrar under the said Act made on June 3, 2015, a series of irregularities and violations of the rules had been noticed.

On the basis of the findings in that enquiry, a show-cause notice was issued on June 16, 2015, calling for explanation as to why the Registration of the Green Peace India Society should not be cancelled.

After several communications between the Registrar and the Greenpeace, the Registrar alleged that the Section 37 of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act is very specific that if the Registrar is satisfied, after due enquiry under Section 36 of that Act, the Registered Society has contravened any of the provisions of the Act or Rules made there under or the fraudulent conduct in the business etc.

Greenpeace India said that following this, the Executive Board of Greenpeace India Society was "directed to pass a special resolution and dissolve itself" within one month of the order.

In a statement issued today, Members of the Greenpeace India Executive Committee said that the Registrar's order is completely unjustified, especially, as the organisation is complied with the law to the fullest.

"After a detailed review, we are convinced that the order contains several inaccurate and baseless allegations," it said. For instance, Greenpeace India has been accused of not submitting a detailed response to their earlier notice (the show cause notice dated 16th of June), when we actually have copies of receipts stamped in acknowledgement of our response dated October 5th. Most seriously, we found that it had failed to comply with the order from the Madras High Court dated August 4, it added.

"For over a year now, the courts have upheld Greenpeace India's right to exist despite attempts by a variety of government authorities seeking to silence our voice. In all the cases where we have approached the courts so far, we have had favourable verdicts upholding our freedom of speech and right to dissent. We have therefore agreed unanimously to direct the organisation to take all necessary steps to appeal this order," said Greenpeace India's statement.

Earlier, in a statement Greenpeace said that while several international leaders, including the United Nations Secretary General have recently upheld the importance of civil society in healthy democracies, this notice is the latest assault on free speech in India. Over the last 18 months, Greenpeace India has endured repeated attempts at suppression through different government authorities, and prepares yet again to seek legal redress, it added.