Supreme Court dismisses PIL to probe NBA activities

The Supreme Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), seeking a CBI probe into the activities of the Medha Patkar-led Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and receiving funds from foreign countries.

New Delhi, July 10 : The Supreme Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), seeking a CBI probe into the activities of the Medha Patkar-led Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and receiving funds from foreign countries.

Rejecting a plea filed by an Ahmedabad based NGO, NCCL, the apex Bench comprising of Justices C K Thakker and Justice Altamas Kabir said that allegations mentioned in the PIL are unclear and without proper foundation.

The apex court asked the National Council of Civil Liberties (NCCL) to pay Rs 5,000.

NCCL Secretary V K Saxena had filed a PIL seeking a probe into the NBA's activities, alleging that the group was acting at the behest of foreign powers and was being funded by them in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

NCCL had also alleged that some of the NBA's support groups Arohi Niyas, Sarvodya Sikshan Samiti Malcha, Delhi Forum and Lok Samiti had received foreign funds in violation of FCRA.

Earlier, the apex court had refused to pass an order on a plea by NBA, seeking to restrain the NCCL from approaching the media on issues related to a PIL filed by it.

The NBA had complained against recent media reports based on affidavits filed by the Governments of Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Gujarat in the apex court.oth states supported allegations made by the NCCL. The Gujarat Government sought a high level inquiry, contending that wide-scale protest against the Narmada project cannot be carried out without substantial funds.

The MP Government alleged that NBA activists are getting foreign support for disrupting relief and rehabilitation work for the project-affected families.

ANI