New Delhi, May 18 (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the Centre's response to Greenpeace India's plea challenging suspension of its registration for accepting foreign currency donations and the freeze on its bank accounts.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher asked the government counsel to take instructions on whether funds of Greenpeace's domestic accounts can be released for its day-to-day running, including for paying salaries of its volunteers.

”Insofar as salaries and other expenses are concerned, something has to be done. Take instructions,” the court said to the lawyer appearing for MHA.

Apart from the Centre, the court also issued notice to and sought reply of the three banks --IDBI, ICICI and Yes Bank -- which had complied with the home ministry’s directive to freeze the NGO's accounts.

It also asked Greenpeace to file an affidavit indicating details of its day-to-day functioning expenses, including salaries to be paid to the NGO's volunteers or workers, and listed the matter for hearing on May 26.

During the hearing, senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam, who appeared for the NGO, argued that the purpose behind freezing of its domestic accounts was to stop it from paying salaries to its employees and volunteers.

He said salaries have not been paid since April 9 as the NGO has no funds for day-to-day activities.

Terming as “subterranean” the ministry of home affairs’ conduct of directing banks not to credit donations received into the NGO's account, Subramaniam said such “arrogance of power needs to be corrected”.

He also questioned from where the government got the power to freeze its accounts.

Observing that the issue here was whether the government can tolerate dissent in democracy, Subramaniam questioned the 'watch list' and 'prior permission’ list prepared by the authorities.

On April 9, the home ministry had suspended Greenpeace’s registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act or FCRA for 180 days.