New Delhi. The Union Home ministry has revoked the FCRA license of the Church of North India, one of the country’s oldest evangelical organisations, over alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Church of North India
As per media reports, the Church of North India runs several schools and colleges across the country. “The FRCA licence of the Church of India has been revoked in the wake of alleged violation of FCRA provisions. A probe is under way,” a ministry official said without revealing the specific violation alleged.
In 2019, a case of forgery has been registered against Church of North India (CNI) Bishop Peter Baldev and 16 others for allegedly selling church properties worth Rs 10,000 crore in a case that could prove to be one of the biggest church scams in the country.
The Bishop Peter Baldev and other accused of the financial crime have been charged with using fake documents to transfer properties belonging to Indian Church Trustees. The complaint that led the case being registered against Bishop Peter Baldev was filed by Bishop John Augustine of the Lucknow Diocese of the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon.
What is FCRA?
FCRA license, therefore, refers to the permission or registration obtained under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. This act regulates the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions or donations.
FCRA registration is mandatory for any NGO or association if it has to receive foreign funds. Around 16,900 NGOs or associations in the country currently have FCRA licences.
Over the past eight years, the Centre has tightened the rules and procedures for NGOs to receive and use foreign funds. Ministry sources said the FCRA licences of over 7,000 NGOs had been cancelled in the last four years for FCRA violations.
