New Delhi: Ending bitter political row on the Centre taking over the prestigious and historical Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), the Supreme Court today (Nov 24) upheld a Parliamentary legislation affirming the Government action to take over the functioning of the body.

A Bench comprising Justice R C Lahoti and Justice Brijesh Kumar upheld the validity of ICWA Act and dismissed two petitions filed by ICWA through its president Harcharan Singh Josh challenging the take over of the private body functioning from the famous "Sapru House" in New Delhi.

ICWA had challenged the Act, saying the body was set up in 1943 by renowned persons like Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Radhakrishnan, Zakir Hussain and H N Kunjroo for the purpose of independent assessment of the international situation and formulation of views on that.

It had alleged that taking over of such bodies by the Government infringed the fundamental rights of citizens to form associations guaranteed under Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution.

The petitioners had alleged that by taking over ICWA, the Government would be able to put its nominee as the head of it so that the body would give views similar to that of the government on affairs of international importance.

The Government, citing massive financial irregularities, had taken over the ICWA saying an institution of national importance like ICWA had to be managed and administered properly.

PTI