A charitable organization, the Shri Sai Kirpa Society, has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court seeking permission to allow it to freely accept foreign aid and also import Covid-19 related medical supplies from foreign sources. The court on Friday sought the Central government’s response on this plea.
The division bench of Justices D.N. Patel and Jyoti Singh, after hearing both the parties, opined that to grant exemption of duty on foreign aid is the inherent power of Government of India under Section 50 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010 and must be decided by the government only. The Court has sought the Centre’s response in eight weeks.
The petition, presented in court by advocate Gaurav Gupta, says that this charitable society operates in Greater Noida and Rajasthan and has been providing medical assistance for over 15 years. Their objective is to build hospitals, clinics and dharamshalas for the underprivileged of society.
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The plea says that during the pandemic, the petitioner society has been religiously providing medical assistance, such as arranging medical camps, distributing relief material, and medical supplies to the affected families and consequently, has approached various patrons and individuals extending their charitable inclinations in order to continue their services.
The petition stated that though the Respondent (the government) has permitted duty free import of oxygen concentrators to individuals, the petitioner society wishes to fall under the umbrella of the same in order to avail the benefit that cannot directly import or receive gifts from overseas.
Source ILNS