Government files additional affidavit in NGO funding case

The Government of India on 5 April, 2017 filed an additional affidavit in the NGO funding case.

The matter will next be heard after two weeks.

Earlier on 10 January, 2017, the Supreme Court called for hearing the plea filed by apex court lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma seeking a direction in the NGO funding case.

Noting that NGOs get "mind-boggling" funds and it has become a "major problem," the apex court said that it would consider asking the Law Commission of India to bring an effective law to regulate the flow of money to a total 29.99 lakh NGOs functioning in the country.

The apex court bench also comprising Justice A.M. Khanwilkar asked senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi to assist the court in finding a way to deal with the issue and, if necessary, refer the matter to the Law Commission.

Advocate M.L. Sharma, the petitioner in the case, submitted that 80 percent of the NGOs get foreign funds.

He claimed that "retired government employees and politicians run these NGOs drawing on their influence."

The Central Board of Investigation (CBI) records filed in the apex court in this case showed that only 2,90,787 NGOs file annual financial statements of a total of 29,99,623 registered ones under the Societies Registration Act.

In some states, the CBI said the laws do not even provide for the NGOs to be transparent about their financial dealings.

In the Union Territories, of a total of 82,250 NGOs registered and functioning, only 50 file their returns.

-ANI