HC stays order axing Greenpeace registration

The Madras High Court on Friday stayed an order of the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies cancelling the registration of Greenpeace India after it argued that the principles of natual justice were not followed, a senior advocate said. “The court asked me why there had been no appeal to the Inspector General (Registerations) and why the court had been approached. Citing several Supreme Court judgements, I replied that when the principles of natural justice were violated, the only recourse was to move the high court,” senior advocate PS Raman, who led the NGO’s legal team, said. “I also pointed out that of the 10 charges against Greenpeace, nine had already been dropped. This was because the registrar could not read the books of accounts holistically,” he added.