Delhi HC asks Centre not to take coercive steps against trust for non-filing of return under FCRA

The plea sought to restrain the authorities from taking any coercive action against the petitioner and that the trust be permitted to file its annual returns.

The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre not to take any coercive step against a charitable trust, formed for upliftment of destitutes and leprosy patients, for not filing its annual return as mandated under the due to purported technical glitches on the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Justice Rekha Palli issued a notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and asked it to respond to the petition, and listed the matter for further hearing on December 16. “Till the next date, no coercive action be taken by the respondent (MHA) against the petitioner (trust) for non filing of its return for the year 2019-20,” the court said.