Following reports about the suspension of FCRA license for World Vision, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the FCRA license of another controvesial organization Socio-Legal Information Center, a patron NGO of the Human Rights Law Network, which has been funded by foreign churches.
It's confirmed. Great Job @LegalLro!
FCRA License of the 'Socio-Legal Information Center' (083780554) has been cancelled by the Ministry of Home Affairs. SLIC is the patron NGO of the 'Human Rights Law Network' https://t.co/GbWxkOyGSh pic.twitter.com/Xcccx79CKr— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) November 24, 2022
Socio-Legal Information Center (SLIC) is run by a Christian lawyer named Colin Gonsalves who has been under the Government’s scanner for a few years now, for offering disproportionate support to several issues, including the Rohingya Muslim refugees, illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, the infamous 2020 Delhi Riots, Christian priest and Maoist sympathizer, Stan Swamy accused for his role in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence and more recently, the Hijab controversy.
The FCRA license of an organization is cancelled when it violates the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
According to the FCRA rules, an NGO seeking to receive foreign donations must utilise those funds only for the purpose for which they have been received and as stipulated in the Act. The reasons that can lead to the cancellation of FCRA Registration are: i) non-filing of annual returns, ii) not maintaining proper FCRA account, iii) making false declaration and false account, iv) not working in public interest, v) utilization of foreign funds for administrative expenses, vi) accepting funds through undisclosed bank accounts.
HRLN is a project of the Socio-Legal Information Centre (SLIC), which claims to be a non-profit legal-aid and education organisation, providing free legal assistance to those people who lack the capacity to seek legal remedy.The Human Rights Law Network is a division of the Socio-Legal Information Centre (SLIC). HRLN, founded by Supreme Court lawyer, Colin Gonsalves in 1989, The HRLN has a mission statement which is a clever pretext to advancing a minority-based agenda in India. It is described as “a collective of lawyers and social activists dedicated to the use of the legal system to advance human rights, struggle against violations, and ensure access to justice for all in India”. HRLN employs a smart strategy in appointing retired SC judges as directors! The names of Ex-Supreme Court judges are a deterrent to anybody with opposing arguments to the cases defended by the HRLN and are highly prone to manipulation and undue influence, utilized in judgements where it fights various litigations at the SC or High Court levels.
Under the garb of providing legal support to “underprivileged” sections of society, HRLN receives funds from European churches to provide legal help to anti- establishment forces of India. Providing legal help to any accused murderer, rioter, or arsonist, is not an illegal act per se, however, using money received under FCRA from foreign countries to defend anti-establishment forces is a violation of the FCRA.
Colin Gonsalves’ “non-profit” HRLN with close, established links to the now banned Socio-Legal Information Center (SLIC), received a hitherto-known amount of ₹50 crore from European Churches and organizations claiming to fight for “human rights” including rights in favour of “religious freedom”. It has been long alleged that HRLN and SLIC, have been working exclusively for the Muslim and Christian cause in India against the interests of the Hindus and the larger national cause.
The Church denominations which funded crores to HRLN’s patron NGO “Socio-Legal Information Center” are: Bread for the World (Germany, Christian Protestant), DKA (Austria, Christian Catholic) MISEREOR (German, Christian Catholic), Karuna Trust (UK, allegedly Dalit- Buddhist) INCLO ( group of 13 “human-rights” NGOs) and European Commission (Belgium, purportedly for “human-rights”).
HRLN is also the parent body of the Indian People’s Tribunal (IPT), also called the Indian People’s Tribunal on Environmental and Human Rights or Independent People’s Tribunal. Set up in June 1993, IPT claims to conduct public inquiries into human rights and environmental abuses and conduct investigations into cases of relocation of rural people to make way for dams or parks, eviction of slum dwellers, industrial pollution and alleged communal or state-sponsored violence. To many, this appears to be yet another “front” for inciting unrest, promoting anti-government demonstrations and destabilizing the Central government/state governments against much needed developmental projects for the country’s economic growth.
Vinay Joshi of Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) published an elaborate report back in 2020, highlighting the nexus between certain “NGOs” and their anti-Indian, specifically anti-Hindu activities. He talks about Colin Gonsalves, SLIC and HRLN at length.
Colin Gonsalves has personally fought the case for Soni Sori, who was arrested for her links with Naxalites.
HRLN website openly claimed that its lawyers defended stone pelters, rioters, arsonist and criminal elements involved in anti CAA riots across the country including riot accused Safoora Zargar.
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