Auroville Foundation Act,1988
Act No : 54
Section : PRELIMINARY
AUROVILLE FOUNDATION ACT, 1988
54 of 1988
[29th September, 1988]
The cultural township of Auroville, situated about 10 Kms. north of pondicherry, was founded on 28th February, 1968, on the basis of a charter announced by the Mother where people of different countries are expected to live together in harmony in one community and are expected to engage themselves in cultural, educational, scientific and other pursuits aiming at human unity.
2. The formation and growth of Auroville was welcomed by the Government of India as a concrete effort of creating international understanding. Resolutions were also sponsored by the Government of India in four general conferences of UNESCO, commending Auroville project to those interested in UNESCO's ideals. However, soon after the Mother left her body in 1973. unhappy developments overtook this project and the Central Government was forced to take over temporarily the manageinent of auroville from Sri Aurobindo Society and others under the Auroville (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1980 (59 of 1980). Initially, the Act was valid for 5 years but it had to be extended further in 1985 and 1987 as the efforts made to arrive at a solution, in consultation with the residents of Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Society, to provide for the permanent management of Auroville, had not succeeded. Efforts were. however, continued and a broad consensus has now emerged that it would be in the interest of further development of Auroville to establish a body corporate called the Auroville Foundation.
3. The properties relatableto Auroville which are currently owned by Sri Aurobindo Society and other trusts and bodies founded by the Residents of Auroville will vest mm the new body corporate. The management of all properties and assets relatable to Auroville is presently with the Administrator of Auroville appointed underthe Auroville (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1980. These assets were created by Sri Aurobindo Society and other bodies substantially with the aid of donations received from different organizations and individuals in and outside India (including the Central and State Governments) for purposes and activities of Auroville which under the proposed legislation will become the responsibility of the Foundation. The Government, therefore, proposes to acquire these assets without payment of any compensation and vest these in the proposed Auroville Foundation whose primary objective shall be to encourage and promote ideals and programmes envisaged in the charter of Auroville proclaimed by the Mother which are cherished in equal degree by the Sri Aurobindo Society and the Residents of Auroville.
4. As in the existing Auroville Act, there shall be an International Advisory Council to advise the Central Government and the Governing Board of the Foundation on matters concerning development and management of Auroville. The day to day activities will be looked after by the Residents through appropriate autonomous arrangements,
5. The management of the Foundation will vest in a Governing Board, as constituted by the Government from time to time. In order to avoid old controversies getting perpetuated in the Governing Board, the Government has decided in principle that none of the existing societies or trusts will have a right or representation on the Governing Board. All nominations to this body will, therefore, be on individual basis.
6. The Bill incorporates the provisions mentioned above. -Gaz. of Ind., 31-8-1988, Pt. II, S. 2, Ext" p. 23 (No. 46).
An Act to provide for the acquisition and transfer of the undertakings of Auroville and to vest such undertakings in a foundation established for the purpose with a view to making long-term arrangements for the better management and further development of Auroville in accerdamce with its original charter and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
WHEREAS Auroville was founded by the 'Mother' on the 28th day of February, 1968 as an international cultural township;
AND WHEREAS in view of the serious difficulties which had arisen with regard to the management of Auroville, the management thereof had been vested in the Central Government for a limited period by the Auroville (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1980;
AND WHEREAS under the management of the Central Government and under the overall guidance of the International Advisory Council set up under the aforesaid Act, Auroville had been able to develop during the last eight years along several important lines and the residents of Auroville have also carried on activities for the development of Auroville which need further encouragement and consolidation;
AND WHEREAS Auroville was developed as a cultural township with the aid of funds received from different organisations in and outside India as also from substantial grants received from the Central and State Governments, and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation also had from time to time reflected in its resolutions that the project on Auroville is contributing to international understanding and promotion of peace;
AND WHEREAS for the purpose of encouraging continuing and consolidating the aforesaid activities of Auroville. it is necessary in the public interest to acquire the undertakings of Auroville and to vest them in a body corporate established for the purpose:
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows :-
CHAPTER 01: PRELIMINARY
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