The journey of the Auroville Files was not only to highlight the wrongdoings of the Auroville institution to the public, but we were also meticulously following up the Auroville Foundation with numerous Right to Information Act appeals ( RTI ). After the enquiry committee report recommending CBI, ED, NCB, IT, NIA was submitted to the Ministry of Education in September 2019, many Aurovilians tried to lobby with offices across the country to hush action on this report. The deviation of Auroville from its core principles and lawlessness was propagated under the chairmanship of Dr. Karan Singh who had held 4 consecutive terms. Although, the same chairman also constituted the enquiry committee, and many facts and evidence point that he tried to bring all the lawlessness into the legal framework of Auroville, without criminal actions.
The Ministry of Education decided to change the management of the Governing Board, after deputing the Under Secretary ( accused in the enquiry committee report ) as the Acting Secretary of the Auroville Foundation for over a year, where it is known that many such cover-ups took place. Finally, to everyone's relief, the Ministry constituted a new Chairman, Shri R.N. Raviji ( Governor of Tamilnadu )
The new Auroville Foundation decided to confirm the Masterplan, although was met with resistance of all kinds by the people against its implementation, most of the leaders of these protests were the accused in the Enquiry Committee Report. The Auroville Foundation then brought about many changes in policies and governance including the appointment of public officers in key groups dealing with land and finance. The Auroville Foundation has brought about many changes in the way of functioning of Auroville so far.
The RTIs filed during The Auroville Files' investigative journey from 2019 onwards have now yielded responses, offering a comprehensive insight into the past, present, and potential future of Auroville.
The questions and answers for the RTIs are self-explanatory - it shows what Auroville was, and what it is going to be in the future, is for the readers to decipher. This is the first RTI questions, response, and comments thereof.
RTI reply 1: Auroville Foundation
AFOUN/R/E/21/00004 | Filed on 29/09/2021 | Replied on 08/01/2024
a) Auroville schools are under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Are certificates of Auroville schools recognized for higher education in India & are they bound by the Right to Education? Yes/ No
Reply from the Auroville Foundation: No
Auroville Schools offer a distinctive educational approach, diverging from the conventional path by limiting students' access to higher education within India. Scholarships, a scarce resource, are selectively granted to individuals who wield influence within the Working Groups. This select few then return to assume leadership roles, directing what seems akin to a subordinate workforce, devoid of the opportunity for further education.
b) Statutory Construction NOC by District Collector or Buildings Department for Matrimandir, Bharat Niwas & Savitri Bhavan is required.
Reply from the Auroville Foundation: Could not be replied at the appropriate time due to a technical glitch. Questions b - j
It is known that no permissions have been sought hence the technical glitch, but they are in the process of legalising this concern. Subsequently, all answers to the questions are technical glitches. Either the systems of RTI have not worked properly till now, or they were erased, or never existed, or too difficult to answer, we do not know.
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c) Auroville library promotes piracy and anyone, resident or outsider can go to Auroville library can take a copy of the latest movies, software, and others free of cost / by paying the operator a small amount. Any special licenses were given to the Auroville library for such activities?
Devoid of any licenses, Auroville operated without official authorization. Despite stringent anti-piracy measures enforced by authorities in India, Auroville seemingly enjoyed unrestricted freedom until now.
d) Cinema Paradiso screens many films from across the world. Statutory licenses for public performances are required including permission from directors/ producers of such films screened so far, for the past 5 years.
Absence of requisite permissions or licenses was evident, despite the universal applicability of the law in India.
e) Licenses of doctors, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, healers, yoga instructors working in Sante Clinic,Quiet Healing Centre, Sadhana Forest, and others are required, for the past 5 years.
Operating without proper licenses, unauthorized individuals engaged in professional activities and profited from workshops and other enterprises. A notable example is Architect Satprem, who lacked the required license to practice as an architect in India or use the name. The Auroville Foundation removed him from the Register of Residents, and he had also filed complaints regarding construction against the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation. Consequently, any certificates or comments issued by unlicensed practitioners, including Satprem's report on the Secretary, are rendered null and void.
f) NOC for felling of trees & produces from Auroville Lands from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are required for the last two financial years.
No requests for permissions have been made, and obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) could aid in the proper documentation of the trees felled and the revenue generated from their sale. The custodians of the land have been unfairly benefiting from these activities thus far.
g) Sales deeds of houses in Kalpana, Humanscape, and others are required including paid sales tax and property registration taxes so far.
Public lands designated for housing, funded by donations and grants intended for low-cost or free housing for Aurovilians, new comers, and volunteers, were subsequently sold without any tax implications. This transaction, seemingly exempt from taxes, raises concerns as the law applies universally to all sales within the country.
h) Rental Agreements of Aurovilians who rent their Auroville houses to Guests, Volunteers, Aurovilians,Friends of Auroville are required for the past 5 years.
No formal rental agreements were established, and transactions were predominantly conducted in cash, providing an avenue for the individuals involved to unfairly accumulate wealth.
i) How does Auroville Management send notices to other owners / businesses in the area on legality when Auroville does not follow law nor confirmed the Masterplan? Explanation required.
The Auroville institution has issued notices to individuals for using the name of Auroville in their addresses, pincode 605101, withholding of essential services to specific properties to force sale, alleged in illegal constructions for themselves, and an overall lack of adherence to regulations, particularly in the absence of licenses and confirmation of the Masterplan. This administrative vacuum has created an environment conducive to the proliferation of criminal activities, attributing to the thriving criminal gangs in the area due to the mismanagement of Auroville groups.
j) What action has been taken on the IPC sections mentioned in the Enquiry Committee Report in September 2019 so far? Have they been forgiven? Explanation required.
Comments: There are the IPC sections in the enquiry report:
1) Section 403 of IPC: Dishonest misappropriation of property.
2) Section 406 of IPC: Punishment for criminal breach of trust.
3} Section 408 of IPC: Criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant.
4) Section 409 of IPC: Criminal breach of trust by public servant, or
by banker, merchant or agent.
5) Section 417 of IPC: Punishment for cheating.
6) Section 419 of IPC: Punishment for cheating by impersonation.
7) Section 420 of IPC: Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery
of property.
8) Section 463 of IPC: Forgery.
9) Section 464 of IPC: Making a false document.
10} Section 465 of IPC: Punishment for forgery
The current Auroville Foundation has a mammoth task ahead to address all the issues of governance, but by not addressing past crimes, the resistance against the Mother's Auroville will continue.
More of the RTI replies are to follow on our social channels, as we bring facts as is, and slowly peel off decades of rot in Auroville, so that under the new governance it may spring boldly toward future realizations, with accountability and transparency.
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