SC rejects plea to extend lapsed FCRA licences

The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down a plea from an NGO that had sought quashing of the Centre's decision that resulted in 5,789 organisations losing their Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration.

FCRA registration is mandatory for any association and NGO to receive foreign funding. The plea, filed by US-based NGO 'Global Peace Initiative', came up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and C.T. Ravikumar.

Advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for Global Peace Initiative, had sought a direction from the SC to extend the FCRA licences of NGOs if they applied for it within the next two weeks.

However, the Supreme Court refused any interim relief and directed Global Peace Initiative to approach the authorities with suggestions, sources reported.