Greenpeace India: Is it time up for the NGO?

Bengaluru, July 23: Greenpeace shifted its office to Bengaluru despite being registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. This is one of the discrepancies that was found during the inspection that was conducted at Greenpeace, the Non Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Among the other violations found were the failure to file documents and returns during the stipulated time. The Tamil Nadu Inspector of Registration has issued Greenpeace with a show cause notice to cancel its registration as a society under the TN Societies Registration Act of 1975.

Violations galore

The show cause notice that was issued under Section 37 of the Societies Registration Act seeks an explanation as to why the registration of Greenpeace as a society should not be cancelled.

If Greenpeace is unable to give a suitable explanation, then it stares at a shut down. Various violations were found during the inspection that was conducted.

It was found that Greenpeace had not filed the documents required. The same had not been filed at all or there was a delay in doing so, investigations had found. During the inspection it was also found that the NGO was registered under the Tamil Nadu Act, but was headquartered at Bengaluru.

A show cause as to why an office in Chennai was working at an address different from the one provided has also been slapped.

When will Greenpeace respond?

Greenpeace was accorded a time of 8 days to reply to the show cause which was issued on June 16th. However according to officials in the Home Ministry, the NGO had failed to respond to the notice in the stipulated time. Greenpeace in fact has sought extension of time.

A Home Ministry official informed that Greenpeace India had sought more time to send in their reply. Let us see how long they will take and if they fail to respond soon, then appropriate action will be initiated, the officer also informed.

If the show cause notices are converted to action, then Greenpeace India will have no option but to wind up its operations. The NGO is already is in trouble following a major crackdown in which it had been accused of violating the norms under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

It has also been accused by the Intelligence Bureau of stage managing protests in a bid to hurt the economy of India.

OneIndia News