The Madras High Court stayed the government order cancelling Greenpeace India's registration, for the sixth time in the last year and a half, on Friday. The court ruled that the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies (RoS) had not followed principles of natural justice. The government had attempted to shut down its operations in India after investigating it over financial fraud.

“We were confident the courts would agree that Greenpeace is on sound legal footing. Our accounts are an open book and on our website for all to inspect” said Priya Pillai for Greenpeace India. She added that government’s clumsy tactics to suppress free speech and dissenting voices are turning into “a major embarrassment for this government".

India had cancelled Greenpeace International's operating license, giving them a month to close down, citing financial fraud and falsification of data on November 6.