Decision on Unauthorized Removal of Residents from Register of Residents

Overview

The Auroville Residents' Assembly conducted an Emergency RAD (Residents' Assembly Decision-making) process in October 2023 to address the unauthorized removal of residents from the Register of Residents (RoR) by the Secretary's office. This decision reinforced the Residents' Assembly's exclusive authority over residency matters under the Auroville Foundation Act.

Participation and Results

• Total participants: 741 registered residents

• Quorum requirement: 10% of eligible residents (239 votes required)

• Total eligible voters: 2,387 confirmed Aurovilians (as of October 2023)

• Outcome: The resolution was overwhelmingly approved with 98% support

The Decision

Result: APPROVED with 98% support (725 votes in favor, 6 against, 10 "don't know")

The approved resolution stated: "We declare the announcements and acts as mentioned above as invalid and against the approved regulations and principles. We hereby resolve that Ayyappan, Mael, Satprem and any other residents whose names have been removed or omitted without due process, remain bonafide members of the Residents' Assembly."

What This Decision Means

The approved resolution addressed a fundamental violation of the Auroville Foundation Act regarding who has authority over residency decisions. The community responded to unilateral actions by the Secretary's office that overstepped legal boundaries.

The key issue was unauthorized removals:

• Mael Shanti Vidal - announced removed from RoR on April 13, 2023

• Satprem Maini - announced removed from RoR on September 29, 2023

• T. Ayyappan - removed as executive of Auroville Earth Institute because his name was allegedly not in the RoR

These removals were announced by Mr. Sathyanarayan, Accounts Officer/Under Secretary In Charge, without following proper legal procedures.

The approved resolution includes these key components:

• The decision reaffirmed that under Section 19.2(a) of the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988, and the Auroville Foundation (Admission and Termination) Regulations, 2020, adding and removing individuals from the Register of Residents is the sole prerogative of the Residents' Assembly

• The resolution referenced the Madras High Court order dated September 4th, which confirmed the Residents' Assembly's exclusive authority over residency matters

• The community declared all unauthorized removals as "invalid and against the approved regulations and principles"

• The resolution confirmed that Ayyappan, Mael, Satprem, and any other residents removed without due process "remain bonafide members of the Residents' Assembly"

• The decision emphasized that no proper process under the Act or Admission and Termination Regulations had been initiated or approved to enable the Secretary to remove any names from the Register of Residents

  
  

This decision demonstrated the community's strong commitment to upholding legal procedures and protecting residents' rights from administrative overreach.