Registration of the Greenpeace cancelled in India
Greenpeace India is expected to challenge this order in the Madras high court.
NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies has cancelled registration of the Greenpeace India - the environmental NGO which has been campaigning in the country against air pollution and unsustainable use of natural resources including water and forests for long.
The Greenpeace India, registered as NGO in India under the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies (RoS), got the order of cancellation of its registration on Friday. The order was formally issued on November 4.
"The Greenpeace India has just received notice from the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies, summarily announcing cancellation of its registration as a society. While several international leaders, including the United Nations Secretary General have recently upheld the importance of civil society in healthy democracies, this notice is the latest assault on free speech in India", said the NGO in a statement.
It is learnt that the Greenpeace India will challenge this order in the Madras high court as early as possible.
Reacting to the development, Vinuta Gopal, Interim Executive Director of the NGO, said, "The RoS is clearly acting under directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi, which has been trying to shut Greenpeace India down for over a year now. The MHA's clumsy tactics to suppress free speech and dissenting voices are turning into a major national and international embarrassment for this government. This is an extension of the deep intolerance for differing viewpoints that sections of this government seem to harbor.
"The Registrar has passed this order without granting Greenpeace a hearing, and without complying with the Madras high court order to address each of our points and queries. This is a blatant attempt to circumvent the legal process and shows no respect for the law.
The Greenpeace India, registered as NGO in India under the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies (RoS), got the order of cancellation of its registration on Friday. The order was formally issued on November 4.
"The Greenpeace India has just received notice from the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies, summarily announcing cancellation of its registration as a society. While several international leaders, including the United Nations Secretary General have recently upheld the importance of civil society in healthy democracies, this notice is the latest assault on free speech in India", said the NGO in a statement.
It is learnt that the Greenpeace India will challenge this order in the Madras high court as early as possible.
Reacting to the development, Vinuta Gopal, Interim Executive Director of the NGO, said, "The RoS is clearly acting under directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi, which has been trying to shut Greenpeace India down for over a year now. The MHA's clumsy tactics to suppress free speech and dissenting voices are turning into a major national and international embarrassment for this government. This is an extension of the deep intolerance for differing viewpoints that sections of this government seem to harbor.
"The Registrar has passed this order without granting Greenpeace a hearing, and without complying with the Madras high court order to address each of our points and queries. This is a blatant attempt to circumvent the legal process and shows no respect for the law.
"We are confident that we are on strong legal ground. We have faith in the legal process and are confident of overcoming this order".http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Registration-of-Greenpeace-India-cancelled/articleshow/49688097.cms?prtpage=1