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| Image from Google Earth |
The 68th Governing Board meeting held in Auroville on 5th December 2024 decided "to form a one-member Committee by a retired High Court Judge to look into the allegations and furnish a report to the GB". The terms of reference for the one-member Committee requires it “To record the process of land acquisition followed by the Auroville Foundation since the year 1991 and how the process undergone changes over a period of time”. It also states, “The Committee may co-opt experts from the relevant fields such as Revenue Department, Land Registration Department, Police Department etc. as may be required to assist in preparation of its report.”
The Working Commitee of Auroville (RA WCom) had been protesting strongly the land exchanges in the recent years through representations to the Governing Board and the Ministry of Education. On being asked, "Do you welcome the decision even though it may cover the land exchanges in the previous three decades?", the RA WCom replied, "If all the land exchanges are reviewed, for whatever period of time in the past, it is alright according to us. Come what may".
The Minutes of the GB meeting with the decision to look into the allegations of land exchangs has not yet been published on the website of the Office of the Auroville Foundation. There is also no information regarding the formation or commencement of the one-member Committee, yet.
Previous article on the subject:
Retired Judge of High Court to look into land exchange allegations: Auroville Governing Board