MHA Cancels FCRA Registration of Sonam Wangchuk NGO
Sonam Wangchuk during protest in Leh in Ladakh! (Image X.com)
MHA in its order termed that foreign donations cannot be accepted for studies on the sovereignty of the nation, terming it a violation of Section 12(4)(f)(i) of the Act.
By TRH News Desk
New Delhi, September 25, 2025 — The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday cancelled the FCRA registration of the NGO associated with Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The MHA issued an order against the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), citing multiple violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010.
The order follows a show-cause notice served in August 2025, questioning the NGO’s handling of foreign contributions, including deposits linked to education reformist Sonam Wangchuk.
According to the order, SECMOL, which holds FCRA registration certificate No.152710012R, received funds that were either misclassified, deposited in violation of norms, or tied to activities prohibited under the Act. The ministry concluded that the NGO failed to adhere to disclosure requirements and proper segregation of local and foreign contributions.
Deposits Linked to Sonam Wangchuk
One of the key observations involved a deposit of ₹3.5 lakh in FY 2021-22, which SECMOL claimed was the sale proceeds of an old bus purchased with FCRA funds. However, the MHA held the explanation untenable, stating that the amount was shown in filings as a foreign donation from Sonam Wangchuk, but not properly reflected in FCRA accounts. The ministry termed this a violation of Sections 17 and 18 of the Act.
Misclassification of Local Contributions
The order also flagged ₹54,600 deposited in FY 2020-21 as local contributions from Indian volunteers. While SECMOL argued the funds were mistakenly transferred into its FCRA account instead of its local account, the ministry found this to be a breach of FCRA norms.
Foreign Funding for Sovereignty Studies
The MHA highlighted another violation involving ₹4.93 lakh received from a Swedish donor organization, Framtidsgården, for an educational program on climate change, migration, food security, and sovereignty. While SECMOL maintained that the funds were used strictly for educational workshops, the ministry said foreign donations cannot be accepted for studies on the sovereignty of the nation, terming it a violation of Section 12(4)(f)(i) of the Act.
Return of Contributions
In addition, the ministry noted that SECMOL returned ₹19,600 to a donor in FY 2021-22, related to food and accommodation for volunteering at the Ladakh campus. This, the order said, contravened conditions for registration under Section 12(4)(a)(vi).
The MHA’s monitoring unit observed that the violations established a pattern of non-compliance and misreporting. While SECMOL defended its actions as inadvertent errors or educational in nature, the ministry maintained that the lapses constituted serious breaches under FCRA provisions.
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