'A Leopard Won't Change Its Spots' HC Says FCRA Certificate Can't Be Granted To Organisations Engaged In 'Religious Conversion'

The Madras High Court has ruled that organisations dedicated to converting people from one religious faith to another will not be granted a Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) certificate. The court emphasized that religious organisations, which do not disrupt the nation's secular fabric and social harmony, are eligible to obtain FCRA registration. However, the court stressed that a religious organisation cannot disguise its true nature, drawing a comparison to the proverb "a leopard cannot change its spots."

The bench, consisting of Justices G R Swaminathan and M D Sumathi, explained that Section 12 of the FCRA prohibits unregistered religious organisations from accepting foreign contributions. To be eligible for an FCRA certificate, an organisation must clearly disclose its religious objectives. The court noted that while organisations may engage in religious activities, they cannot hide behind a façade of non-religious pursuits to obtain the registration.

In the specific case of Kanzeon Public Charitable Trust in Kodaikanal, the court denied the trust's request for an FCRA certificate. The court stated that the trust claimed to have established a Zen Meditation Centre, but the organisation's founder was an ordained Christian priest. The Central Government's position is to monitor the influx of foreign funds used for conversion activities or other actions that could undermine the country's secular fabric.

The court rejected the trust's application because its application did not accurately describe its religious nature.