Kerala HC Quashes Centre’s Denial of FCRA Renewal for Two NGOs over Alleged Vizhinjam Port Protest Funding
The court said support for protesters cannot automatically be treated as diversion of foreign contribution or an undesirable purpose under the law.
- On Tuesday, the Kerala High Court set aside a Union government order refusing to renew the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act registration of Kerala Social Service Forum and Save a Family Plan India, which officials alleged funded Vizhinjam port protests.
- In 2022, fisherfolk staged protests against the Rs 7,500-crore Adani-MSC Vizhinjam port project, alleging coastal erosion damage; the Centre claimed these NGOs used foreign funds to support the agitation.
- Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas ruled that "executive or administrative distaste" for protests cannot override constitutionally protected rights, and that peaceful dissent against a project cannot be labeled an "undesirable purpose."
- The court directed authorities to review the renewal applications within three months and permitted Family Plan to utilize the Rs 16 crore it received while licensed.
- Declaring that "an order without reason is an action born of whim and not of law," the court found the government's refusal arbitrary and legally deficient, establishing that reasoned decisions are essential to democratic governance.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Kerala High Court Restores Foreign Funding Licence Of 2 NGOs, Questions Centre
The cases were filed by Kerala Social Service Forum, the Kottayam-based body coordinating 32 Catholic Diocesan Social Service Societies, and Save A Family Plan India, a charitable trust based in Kanjoor in Ernakulam.
Funding Peaceful Protests Cannot Be “Undesirable Purpose” To Deny FCRA Renewal, Says Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has set aside the rejection of FCRA renewal applications of two NGOs after the Centre relied on a report of a Central Security Agency alleging that the organisations had funded protests against the Vizhinjam Port project, as reported in LiveLaw. The judgment was delivered by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas while considering petitions filed by Save A Family Plan India and the Kerala Social Service Forum. The petitions challenged…
Kerala HC quashes Centre’s denial of FCRA renewal for two NGOs over alleged Vizhinjam port protest funding
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday quashed the Central Government’s order refusing to renew the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration certificates of two prominent non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Kerala HC sets aside Centre's order refusing FCRA renewal to two NGOs over alleged Vizhinjam port protest funding
High Court directs competent authorities to review and pass orders afresh within three months for the petitioners – Save A Family Plan and Kerala Social Service Forum
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