New Delhi: As a one-time measure, the Union Government has allowed associations, whose certificates have been cancelled for non-filing of returns under the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, a fresh chance to file their returns.
This move will benefit hundreds of organizations affected by the non-filing of returns. Over 4,800 NGOs barred from receiving foreign funds for the past three years, now stand to gain access to these funds once they file their returns.
Filing of returns is mandatory under the Act and non-compliance gets violators debarred from registration and grant of permissions for a period of three years. The Home Ministry has yielded to repeated representations received from several bodies and the one-time exemption will enable them to apply for registration within three months from the date of the issue of the notice released on Thursday, July 31.
The notice clarifies that, in case of violation of the other provisions of the Act, in addition to non-filing of returns, such violations will have to be compounded before the offending association or organization can apply for fresh registration.
