FCRA : Supreme Court Grants One Week Time To Centre To Respond To Pleas Challenging Amendments & Deadline Extension

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted one week time to the Union of India to file its counter-affidavit in petitions filed challenging the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act 2020 and Ministry of Home Affair's notification dated May 18, 2021 extending the date for compliance of specific provisions of the Act.A Bench comprising Justice A.M Khanwilkar, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari. The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted one week time to the Union of India to file its counter-affidavit in petitions filed challenging the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act 2020 and Ministry of Home Affair's notification dated May 18, 2021 extending the date for compliance of specific provisions of the Act. However, the Bench allowed the adjournment after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that he will personally ensure that reply affidavit will be filed in 1 week The writ petitions, Noel Harper and others v. Union of India and Jeevan Jyothi Charitable Trust and others v. Union of India have challenged the amendments saying that they have imposed harsh and excessive restrictions on the NGOs in utilizing foreign funds. Pursuant to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India notification dated May 18, 2021, the MHA has directed NGOs and individuals holding FCRA license to open bank accounts in the designated Branch of the State Of India at New Delhi latest by June 30, 2021 instead of the prior deadline of March 31, 2021.