The order is directed only against NGOs that are registered in Bihar under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and are based outside the state.

But the church leaders pointed out that the definition of NGOs was likely to include all the churches, schools, educational institutions, hospitals, healthcare units and the hundreds of societies run and managed by them.

Fr C.R. Prabhu, Rector of St. Albert's College, Ranchi, the largest theological college in the country, said: "Even the Ranchi archdiocese, the various parishes all over the state, Society of Jesus, YMCA, YWCA and other such institutions would be declared illegal if Bihar decides to stick to its decision."

Many of these societies were registered under the Societies Act of 1860, 80 or 90 years ago, said Prabhu.

"Many organisations run by the Lutheran church are more than a hundred years old. Our societies are also registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and under Section 12 A of the Income Tax Act. Cancellation of registration would mean turning back history by more than a century. It would also mean a lot of harassment, apart from financial losses that we would have to suffer," Prabhu said.

The state government, meanwhile, has requested Bihar to put off the proposed cancellation and has pleaded that it be granted at least two months to sort out the issue.

A deregistration would bar all such organisations and societies from claiming tax relief, the church officials added.

"We cannot sit idle as our existence is now sought to be jeopardised," said the father.

Claiming that such problems did not arise when other states were carved out, Fr Prabhu alleged, "In our case, Bihar has been trying to harass all churches and their organisations."

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976, prohibits any organisation, not being a political party, to accept foreign contributions except with the prior permission of the central government.