Cancellation of certificate
Section 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 deals with cancellation of certificate. The Central Government may, if it is satisfied after making such inquiry as it may deem fit, by an order, cancel the certificate if (a) the holder of the certificate has made a statement in, or in relation to, the application for the grant of registration or renewal thereof, which is incorrect or fa The Act came into force on 01 May 2011.
(1) The Central Government may, if it is satisfied after making such inquiry as it may deem fit, by an order, cancel the certificate if
(a) the holder of the certificate has made a statement in, or in relation to, the application for the grant of registration or renewal thereof, which is incorrect or false; or
(b) the holder of the certificate has violated any of the terms and conditions of the certificate or renewal thereof; or
(c) in the opinion of the Central Government, it is necessary in the public interest to cancel the certificate; or
(d) the holder of certificate has violated any of the provisions of this Act or rules or order made thereunder; or
(e) if the holder of the certificate has not been engaged in any reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of the society for two consecutive years or has become defunct.
(2) No order of cancellation of certificate under this section shall be made unless the person concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(3) Any person whose certificate has been cancelled under this section shall not be eligible for registration or grant of prior permission for a period of three years from the date of cancellation of such certificate.
Section 14, The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (Act 42 of 2010).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Centre for Wildlife Studies (R) v. Union of India
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Cancellation of an FCRA certificate under s.14 has serious civil/economic consequences (including three-year disability under s.14(3)). Section 14(2)’s mandate of a “reasonable opportunity of being heard” is not satisfied by a show-cause notice and written reply alone where the statute contemplates a hearing; failure to afford personal hearing before cancellation vitiates the order. Impugned cancellation quashed; petition allowed.
On this section: s.14 cancellation of certificate — content of “reasonable opportunity of being heard” under s.14(2) before cancellation.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument states that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Questions about Section 14
What have the courts held on Section 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act?
Centre for Wildlife Studies (R) v. Union of India (25 Jun 2024) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.14 cancellation of certificate — content of “reasonable opportunity of being heard” under s.14(2) before cancellation.
How do I find court cases under Section 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 14, section 14 Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, section 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Centre for Wildlife Studies (R) v. Union of India (25 Jun 2024).
What should I read with Section 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, and has it changed?
3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently Management of foreign contribution whose certificate has been cancelled (2018).
When did Section 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act come into force?
Section 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, cited as Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 14, came into force on 01 May 2011, having been enacted on 26 Sep 2010. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.