Madras HC Slams Door on Foreign Funds for Conversion Groups

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on [date] ruled that organisations engaged in religious conversion shall be denied registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), thereby barring them from receiving foreign funds. The court delivered the verdict while rejecting an appeal filed by a charitable trust that had sought FCRA registration.

The bench observed that only organisations whose activities do not affect the nation's secular fabric are eligible to receive foreign contributions. It emphasized that religious conversion activities are incompatible with the secular principles enshrined in the Constitution, and therefore such organisations cannot be permitted to access foreign funding. The court's order reinforces the regulatory stance that FCRA registration is a privilege subject to adherence to national values.

This ruling is expected to have significant implications for NGOs and charitable trusts involved in religious activities across India. It may lead to stricter scrutiny of FCRA applications and could prompt other high courts to adopt similar interpretations. The decision underscores the judiciary's role in upholding secularism and may influence future policy debates on foreign funding of religious organisations.