Dangling axe: Teesta's actions bad for all NGOs, says Gujarat high court - Times of India

AHMEDABAD: In its order rejecting Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand's petition for anticipatory bail in the Gulbarg Society funds case, the Gujarat high court made scathing remarks on how the couple had run the two NGOs - Citi had run the two NGOs - Citizens for Justice and Peace; and Sabrang Trust. Justice J B Pardiwala termed them as "one-woman and one-man show" and added that the other trustees may not have any idea about the affairs of the two trusts.

"By only looking towards the awards and the medals the hard reality should not be ignored. So far as the well-renowned persons being the trustees are concerned, I may only say that the two trusts appear to be a onewoman and one-man show. The other trustees, I doubt, whether have any idea as regards the affairs of the trusts. They might have lent their names unmindful that they may also land up some day in difficulty," the high court said about the NGOs.

The court's harshest remarks were on how the money, which was meant for riot victims, was spent on personal use. "A person who considers the happiness and the pain of others as those of his own, is the real social worker," the court said in its observation on the manner in which Teesta had allegedly spent money on personal luxuries.

The judge further observed that Setalvad's actions might spoil the image of the entire NGO community.

"While giving freedom to the civil society to function with flexibility is positive, too much freedom can lead to abuses by certain groups or individuals calling themselves NGOs, thus giving civil society a bad name," the court said.

It further observed that this makes it difficult for honest NGOs to get funding which, ultimately, adversely affects the poor and the needy.

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