Government rejects Greenpeace’s plea for releasing funds

NEW DELHI: Not only did the Union home ministry cancel the FCRA license of Greenpeace India on Wednesday, but it also turned down the NGO's plea for releasing 25 per cent of the unutilized money lying in its "blocked" bank account. This was after the ministry found that the outfit had already liquidated and utilized the fixed deposit of nearly Rs 5.6 crore, which was over 25 per cent of the unutilized amount, without its approval and in violation of the Delhi high court order dated May 27, 2015.

Greenpeace India had petitioned the home ministry on May 12 to release 25 per cent under Rule 14 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules, 2011. The latter on May 21 requested the NGO to furnish details of the proposed utilization of the money sought to be released. Even before it could reply, the Delhi high court, vide an order dated May 27, ruled that the home ministry should decide on the Greenpeace's request for release of funds in accordance with the law and provisions of the FCRA.

Subsequently on June 10, the NGO was again asked to provide details of the proposed utilization, to which it did not respond. The home ministry then examined all available records, and found that while the association could spend only 25 per cent of the unutilized amount with the prior approval of the central government for the declared aims and objectives for which the foreign contributions were received, "it is transpired that the association had already liquidated and utilized the FD for Rs 5,59,79,924 without seeking approval of the ministry of home affairs in violation of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court order dated 27.05.2015".

Stating that the said amount was much more than 25 per cent of the unutilized amount, the central government, in exercise of its powers under Rule 15 of FCRR, 2011, rejected the request of the association for releasing 25 per cent of the unutilized amount.