Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The High Court has temporarily halted the cancellation of FCRA registrations held by two Goa-based diocesan organisations, providing relief to the Diocesan Society of Education and the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media in their legal challenge against the Union of India.
The dispute centres on the cancellation of the organisations’ FCRA certificates. The petitioners argued that the authorities acted without following due process and failed to give them a proper opportunity to respond before taking the decision.
A key contention before the Court was that the organisations were not served a hearing notice under Section 14(2) of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act before their registrations were cancelled. They also argued that they were not given adequate time or opportunity to put forward their case.
The Court examined the basis on which the registrations were withdrawn and noted that the authorities had relied on the organisations not having received foreign contributions during the relevant period and not having utilised such funds.
The Court pointed out that while Section 14(1)(e) allows cancellation in circumstances where an organisation becomes defunct or fails to undertake reasonable activity in its field for two successive years, merely not receiving foreign contributions does not, by itself, establish that an organisation has ceased functioning.
An organisation may continue its activities through its own financial resources and pursue the objectives for which it was established, the Court observed.
The Court also took note of the fact that the organisations claimed they were not formally provided certified copies of the cancellation orders. They said the orders were instead received through email on February 4, 2026.
After considering the submissions, the Court found that the organisations had made out a prima facie case warranting protection at this stage. It therefore granted ad-interim relief by staying the cancellation orders.
Notices have been issued to the Union government and the other respondents. The matter has been listed for September 10, when the appeals are scheduled to be taken up for further consideration.
The interim order keeps the cancellation in abeyance until the Court examines the matter further and decides the appeals.
