Centre for Policy Research's FCRA Registration Cancelled; CPR Exploring Legal Options
A signboard showing the path to the Centre for Policy Research's office in Delhi. Image Courtesy: CPR/Instagram
New Delhi: In a significant development, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has officially revoked the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), as reported by The Hindu.
The CPR had faced a suspension of its FCRA registration back in February 2023, asserting its adherence to all regulations and expressing cooperation with authorities to resolve the licensing issue. However, recent information reveals that on January 10, CPR learned of the cancellation of its FCRA registration. Yamini Aiyar, the President of CPR, informed The Hindu that the organisation was currently exploring its legal options to seek justice in response to this decision.
This decision follows an episode in September 2022 when the Income Tax Department searched CPR's offices and other NGOs, including Oxfam India. CPR maintained that it diligently responded to all notices issued in the aftermath of the searches.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had alleged in an order dated February 27, 2023, that CPR misused its FCRA funds for purposes other than the educational programmes for which the license was initially granted.
Amidst the ongoing legal battles, academics and researchers worldwide have criticised the Union government's actions against CPR. Scholars have hailed CPR as "one of India’s oldest and most esteemed policy research institutions" with a "reputation for excellence that is second to none among international scholars."
Earlier interventions by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court had temporarily halted the Income Tax Department's proceedings against CPR.
The Delhi High Court is currently conducting hearings on CPR's plea against the I-T department’s order, which seeks to cancel its registration under Section 12A with retrospective effect, thereby revoking its tax exemption status. The legal proceedings in the Delhi High Court on this matter are still ongoing.
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