A day after getting relief from the Madras High Court, environmental group Greenpeace India on Thursday withdrew its writ petition in the Delhi High Court challenging suspension of its registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and freezing of five bank accounts.
The Madras High Court had on Wednesday granted an interim stay for eight weeks on the Ministry of Home Affairs order of September 2 cancelling the non-government organisation’s registration under FCRA.
Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw of Delhi High Court allowed withdrawal of the petition, while observing that the environmental group could not be compelled to pursue the matter in the court.
The court said it was open to the Union government to take action, permissible under the law, for transactions carried out by Greenpeace India under the interim order defreezing two of its domestic accounts. The court had allowed it on May 27 to use two accounts for receiving domestic donations.
Additional Solicitor-General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the MHA, said the Ministry was considering moving the Supreme Court to get the petition before the Madras High Court transferred to Delhi.
He said Greenpeace India approaching the Madras High Court was surprising, as the issue pertaining to its FCRA registration was being determined here.