Legal updates

On 29 April four cases concerning Auroville were listed in the Madras High Court before its summer closure during the month of May.

The case filed by a concerned member of the Residents’ Assembly concerning the constitution of the Admission and Termination Scrutinising Committee (ATSC) was basically accepted for debate and the lawyers of the Foundation Office were directed to submit their arguments within six weeks.

The appeal to the Madras High Court ruling on the quo warranto case, filed by the Working Committee selected by the Residents’ Assembly (RA-WCom) was postponed by the appeal bench until after the summer break.

The appeal filed by the Auroville Foundation Office (AVFO) on the stay of the Regulations of the Governing Board regarding constitution of the Working Committee was also postponed by the appeal bench until after the summer break.

The appeal filed by the AVFO on the interim stay of the 2024 Admission and Termination Regulations of the Governing Board was admitted and the Madras High Court decided to vacate the interim stay that the Madras High Court gave in February 2024. This decision means that these Regulations on Entry and Exit are now applicable. The order does, however, recognise the prerogatives of the Residents’ Assembly as indicated in Section 19 of the Act and states that if any of the regulations contravene the function of the Residents’ Assembly under Section 19 of the Act, then the Act would prevail. The case itself is still awaiting judgement. The Court has posted the matter for final hearing in June.