Oxfam was involved in campaign against Assam tea industry, violated FCRA, claims Centre in HC

The Union government has told the Delhi High Court that non-governmental organisation Oxfam India was found to be involved in “a negative and malicious campaign against the Assam tea industry” and was a “probable instrument of foreign policy”, The Indian Express reported on Saturday.

In its submissions to the court, the Union home ministry alleged that inquiries by central agencies and the Central Board of Direct Taxes found that the NGO was violating provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

FCRA registration is mandatory for any non-profit organisation in India to receive funds from abroad.

Oxfam was purportedly indulging in “activities detrimental to the national economic interest” by entering into an “agreement with another association and funded it to mobilise communities against the coal industry with help of local unions”.

Oxfam India was among 5,932 non-governmental organisations whose registrations under the FCRA had ceased on January 1, 2022, either because they did not apply for renewal or the home ministry refused to sanction their applications for renewal. Oxfam India is in the latter category.

Oxfam India moved the High Court against the Centre not deciding on its renewal application. The Union government was instructed in November 2022 to decide on its petition within six weeks.

In December 2022, the home ministry rejected the application and denied the renewal of...

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