Delhi High Court refuses to interfere with order permitting CHRI to withdraw ₹20 lakh

A view of the Delhi High Court. File The Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 17, 2026) declined to interfere with an interim order permitting civil society organisation Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) to withdraw ₹20 lakh from its reserve fund to meet operational expenses, despite the cancellation of its FCRA registration.A Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia dismissed the Centre’s appeal against the May 19 order of a single judge, observing that cancellation of an organisation’s FCRA registration does not mean that it ceases to function.The bench noted that the effect of cancellation was that the organisation could not receive foreign contributions. “Order was passed way back on May 19, 2026. Seek vacation of the order,” the court said, while disposing of the Centre’s appeal with liberty to approach the single judge for appropriate relief.Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Centre, argued that the single judge had misread the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).On May 19, the single judge had allowed CHRI to withdraw ₹20 lakh from its reserve fund maintained with the Bank of India. The court permitted the organisation to use the amount towards recurring operational expenses, subject to authentication by a chartered accountant. CHRI challenged before the single judge cancellation of its FCRA registration.In its petition, the organisation claimed that the Centre cancelled its registration on September 12, 2024, without giving it an opportunity to be heard, in violation of principles of natural justice and its statutory and fundamental rights. CHRI’s FCRA registration had earlier been suspended by the Centre in June 2021.The organisation has described the cancellation order as unreasonable, unreasoned and vague, alleging that it was issued without proper application of mind and was based on incorrect facts. It has also disputed the allegations of violations of the FCRA. Published - September 17, 2026 08:39 pm IST