The Supreme Court has ruled that residents of Auroville cannot claim a right to be part of any council or committee formed by the Auroville Foundation’s Governing Board, stating their role is limited to offering advice and recommendations.
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Prasana B Varale overturned a Madras High Court decision that had struck down the 2022 standing order establishing the Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC). The High Court had previously ruled that the ATDC’s creation was invalid as it lacked input from the Residents’ Assembly.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized that neither the Auroville Foundation Act nor its associated rules grant legal or statutory rights to the Residents’ Assembly or individual residents to demand membership in governance committees. Their function, the court clarified, is restricted to providing guidance on matters concerning Auroville’s residents, as outlined in Section 19 of the Act.
The court further criticized the High Court’s interpretation of the law, stating that it had “thoroughly misdirected itself” by nullifying the standing order of June 1, 2022.
Court Condemns Repeated Legal Challenges
During the judgment, Justice Trivedi remarked that certain individuals had persistently filed petitions to hinder Auroville’s progress, dragging the Foundation into unnecessary litigation. The court viewed one such petition—filed by respondent Natasha Storey—as an attempt to obstruct development, describing it as an abuse of legal proceedings.
The Supreme Court imposed a penalty of ₹50,000 on Storey, directing her to submit the amount to the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee within two weeks.
In a parallel ruling, the court also sided with the Auroville Foundation in another dispute, lifting the National Green Tribunal’s restriction on the township’s expansion plans.
The High Court’s earlier ruling, issued by Chief Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy in 2024, had stressed that residents should be actively involved in planning and implementing Auroville’s Master Plan. However, the Supreme Court found no legal basis for requiring the Residents’ Assembly’s consultation in appointing members to the ATDC.
This decision solidifies the Governing Board’s authority over Auroville’s administrative framework while defining the Residents’ Assembly’s role as purely advisory.