Delhi HC reserves order on plea of CPR seeking permission for utilising funds lying in bank account
Oct 11, 2023
New Delhi [India], October 11 : The Delhi High court on Wednesday reserved order on an application of Centre for Policy Research (CPR) seeking utilisation of funds lying in the bank account frozen by the Centre.
Justice Subramonium Prasad reserved order on a plea after hearing submissions of parties. He said that the order will be pronounced on Monday.
The High court is hearing a plea moved by CPR challenging the suspension of its Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Licence on 27th February 2023. Its application was filed in March and it is pending for the last six months. Central government has initiated an inquiry.
Earlier, the High court had directed the central government to decide the application moved by Centre for Policy Research (CPR) by September 5.
It had also directed the counsel to bring the file of proceeding against CPR to know the nature of the inquiry conducted by the government. The court had also issued notice on the application seeking interim stay on suspension of FCRA licence.
Senior advocate Arvind P Datar had argued that due to FCRA licence suspension, the operation of CPR has been stopped as it receives 70 per cent of its funds from overseas.
He further submitted that due to non-payment of salaries for the last six months, 80 percent of scientists and employees have left the organisation.
"I am begging to release the salaries...You may not like any dissent in the country but what have those poor employees done? The Home Ministry cleared in its audit, CAG cleared me and then suddenly this happened. It is extremely sad if you are going to close down Indian think-tanks like this...One small dissent and this is done. This is a pattern," the senior advocate submitted.
On the other hand, Counsel for the central government submitted that proceedings have been initiated on the basis of material government has against the NGO. After hearing the submissions, the bench issued notice to the government.
