Tamil Nadu HC stays cancellation of foreign fund registration for Greenpeace

Tamil Nadu High Court on Wednesday granted an interim stay of eight weeks over cancellation of Greenpeace licence to receive donations from abroad.

A bench of Justice M M Sunderesh of Madras High Court ordered an interim stay for eight weeks on the cancellation of the NGO's registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA).

The court directed the organisation's advocate to serve notice to the interior ministry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government suspended the group's licence in April and blocked foreign funds in many of its bank accounts. The government said Greenpeace misreported funds and spent money to obstruct developmental projects.

"This is the fourth time we have taken the Ministry of Home Affairs (interior ministry) to court and the fourth time that the courts have granted us relief. So we certainly believe in the judiciary and also believe that we have done no wrong and we will continue to fight and challenge this arbitrary action by the Ministry of Home Affairs," said Interim Co-Executive Director at Greenpeace India, Vinuta Gopal, in southern Bengaluru city.

In June last year, a report by Intelligence Bureau had accused Greenpeace India of acting against "national interests". This report was then used to block access to funds from Greenpeace International, a move that was overturned by the Delhi High Court in January this year.