Greenpeace welcomes HC verdict, plans to restart campaigns

Greenpeace India today welcomed a High Court order allowing the organisation to use two of its accounts for receiving donations, terming the relief a "lifeline" as it decided to "restart" its pro-environment campaigns.
In a relief to the NGO, Delhi High Court today allowed it to use two of its accounts for the purpose of receiving and utilising fresh domestic donations for its day-to-day functioning, asking the Centre that it cannot choke them of their fund.
"We are enormously relieved that the court has given us this lifeline. We are now able to continue our campaigns on air pollution and solar power immediately, while we prepare to fight the main case," said Samit Aich, Executive Director, Greenpeace India.

"We hope that the MHA will respect the judge's decision and not take any further arbitrary actions between now and then," he said.
He also hoped that this can mark a fresh start in the NGO's relationship with the Home Minister.
"I am ready to meet him (Home Minister) to discuss how Greenpeace can play a role in India's sustainable development in the years to come," Aich said.

The court also allowed the NGO to liquidate its fixed deposits, stating that these and fresh donations be used for its aims and objectives and in accordance with law.
The court said the source of the fixed deposits could be determined by the government in the course of its probe and directed it to decide within eight weeks the NGO's application under Rule 14 of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules (FCRR) which says that 25 per cent of the unutilised amount in the FCRA account can be used with government approval.

"While the past few weeks have been hard, they have also been humbling. So many people have come forward in support of our campaigns for clean air, clean water and cheap, renewable energy.
"Our passion is not in fighting court cases, but in fighting for a cleaner, healthier future for this great country. And that work has only just begun," Aich added.