AUROVILLE FOUNDATION 

NOTIFICATION

Tamilnadu, the 19th December, 2023

F. No. AF/1-4/2023. – In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section 32 of the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988 (54 of 1988) and in supersession of the Auroville Foundation (Admission and Termination of Persons in the Register of Residents) Regulations, 2020, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Governing Board, with the approval of the Central Government, hereby makes the following regulations namely.-

1. Short title and commencement.

• (1)These regulations may be called the Auroville Foundation (Admission and Termination of Persons in the Register of Residents) Regulations, 2023.
• (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Definitions.

(1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,–

• (a) ―Act‖ means the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988 (54 of 1988);
• (b) ―Admissions and Terminations Registry‖ means a cell set up in the Office of Auroville Foundation to perform the functions as provided under regulation 3;
• (c) ―Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee‖ means a committee constituted by the Governing Board under sub-section (1) of section 16 of the Act and as provided in regulation 5;
• (d) ―Appellate Committee‖ means a committee constituted by the Governing Board to consider appeals relating to admissions and terminations;
• (e) ―Auroville Orientation Programme‖ means the course formulated by the Human Resource Service as a mandatory course for Registered Guest or volunteer joining Auroville to attend;
• (f) ―Auroville Admission Criteria‖ means criteria for residing in Auroville, as specified in Schedule I;
• (g) ―Auroville Residence Criteria‖ means criteria for residing in Auroville issued by the Governing Board as a Standing Order, amended from time to time;
• (h) ―Auroville Spiritual and Material Orientation‖, means programme organised by the Human Resources Service on a quarterly basis to be mandatorily followed by newcomers;
• (i) ―Charter‖ means the Charter of Auroville as proclaimed by the Mother on the 28th day of February 1968;
• (j) ―Child of Auroville‖ means a child below eighteen years of age and either one or both its parents are Aurovillian;
• (k) ―Governing Board‖ means the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation under section 11 of the Act;
• (l) ―Human Resource Service‖ means the sub-committee formed by the Funds and Assets Management Committee;
• (m) ―Mentor means a resident of Auroville who has volunteered to be part of a pool of residents who will mentor, assist and guide volunteers and newcomers into Auroville;
• (n) ―newcomer means an individual falling under clause (b) of regulation 6;
• (o) “Register of Residents” means the Register of Residents maintained under sub-section (1) of section 18 of the Act and the Auroville Foundation Rules, 1997;
• (p) ―resident means an individual whose name has been entered in the Register of Residents in a manner provided by the rules and these regulations;
• (q) ―rules means the Auroville Foundation Rules, 1997;
• (r) ―volunteer means a person who is admitted by any entity under the Auroville Foundation who subscribes to the values of the Foundation to provide voluntary service and entered in the list of volunteers.

(2) Words and expressions used in these regulations and not defined, but defined in the Act and the rules shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act and the rules.

3. Functions of Admissions and Terminations Registry.
The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall-

• (a) render secretarial assistance to the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee, Secretary or Appellate Committee, as the case may be, in respect of admission and termination of residents, newcomers, volunteers and for applications related to visa matters thereof;
• (b) receive applications for admission to Auroville, verify and remove defects in the application in consultation with the applicant;
• (c) verify participation in mandatory orientation courses and completion of probation or minimum residence period, as the case may be, by the applicant;
• (d) notify the Residents Assembly regarding any application for admission of newcomer or resident for a period of time as specified in these regulations;
• (e) receive and compile complaints and objections from the Residents Assembly for admission of any newcomer or resident;
• (f) supply validated copy of the complaints and objections, maintaining confidentiality of the name of the resident, to the applicant for response;
• (g) receive and compile applications related to visa matters for verification and recommendation by Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee to Secretary;
• (h) receive and compile complaints, information or reports against any volunteer or newcomer or resident for violation of the Auroville Admission Criteria and Auroville Residence Criteria;
• (i) supply validated copy of the complaints and objections, maintaining confidentiality of the name of the complainant, to the person concerned for response;
• (j) receive appeals in respect of admission and termination of newcomers, residents and volunteers for consideration by Appellate Committee;
• (k) assist Secretary in maintaining and updating Register of Residents;
• (l) maintain separate list of newcomers and volunteers;
• (m) maintain list of mentors, from which the Secretary, shall appoint a mentor to a volunteer or a newcomer upon approval of respective application as specified in regulations 7 and 8, respectively;
• (n) conduct a survey of the persons residing in Auroville, annually, in such manner as may be specified by the Governing Board from time to time, and submit its report to the Governing Board through the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee and Secretary thereon for updating the Register of Residents; and
• (o) call for nominations from the Residents Assembly for the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee, receive and compile such nominations for placing in the Governing Board.

4. Constitution of Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee. 

• (1) Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall have five members, and among them atleast two members shall be residents nominated by the Governing Board based on a call for nomination from the Residents Assembly.
• (2) The Non-Resident members of the Committee shall be nominated by the Chairperson of the Governing Board and shall be persons having knowledge and expertise in the field of administration;
• (3) The Governing Board shall assign a chair for the Committee from among the five members nominated.
• (4) The Committee shall have a tenure of three years or till such time the Committee is reconstituted.

5. Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee.

The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall –

• (a) scrutinise all applications for admission as volunteers, newcomers or residents received through the Admissions and Terminations Registry and decide each case on merit and after completing due process of consultation with the Residents’ Assembly and convey its decision to the Secretary;
• (b) verify applications related to visa matters received through Admissions and Terminations Registry and recommend to the Secretary for an appropriate visa for an applicant and his or her descendants or wards;
• (c) scrutinise all complaints, information or report received against a volunteer, a newcomer or resident through the Admissions and Terminations Registry and decide each case on merit, and after completing due process of consultation with the Residents’ Assembly, and convey its recommendations to the Secretary; and
• (d) scrutinise the annual survey report submitted by the Admissions and Terminations Registry of the persons residing in Auroville and furnish to Secretary for placing before the Governing Board.

6. Admission of individuals in Register of Residents or in the lists.

The admission of an individual in the Register of Residents or in the lists shall pass the following stages, namely: –

• (a) volunteer, shall go through a probationary period, as provided for in sub-regulation (7) of regulation 7 and shall attend the Auroville Orientation Programme;
• (b) newcomer, who shall have completed the probationary period as a volunteer and following procedure as provided under regulation 8, is entered in the list of newcomers; and
• (c) resident, shall have completed twelve months residence in Auroville as a newcomer and whose name is entered in the Register of Residents following the procedure provided under regulation 9.

7. Procedure to become a volunteer.

• (1)Any individual who wishes to be a part of Auroville, may submit an application in the format as may be provided by the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee along with a declaration that he or she is not in violation of any Auroville Admissions Criteria specified in Schedule I, to the Admissions and Terminations Registry.
• (2) The Admission and Termination Registry shall scrutinise the applications and remove defects, if any, in consultation with the applicant and submit to the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee within a period of seven days of receipt of the application complete in all respects.
• (3) The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall scrutinise and decide upon the application within seven days of receipt of application from the Admissions and Terminations Registry and the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee may invite the applicant for an interview before making its decision.
• (4) The decision of the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall be submitted to the Secretary by the Admissions and Terminations Registry within two working days of its receipt from the Committee.
• (5) The Secretary shall either accept the decision of the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee or disagree for reasons to be recorded in writing within seven days of submission of the case by the Admissions and Terminations Registry.
• (6) In case of rejection of application, reasons for the same shall be communicated to the applicant.
• (7) Upon approval of application by the Secretary, the person shall be deemed to be a volunteer and shall be permitted to reside in Auroville for initial probation period of three months, extendable up to maximum of one year.
• (8) The volunteer shall necessarily complete the Auroville Orientation Programme organised by the Human Resource Service during the initial probation period.
• (9) A volunteer may seek extension of probation period by submitting an application to the Admissions and Terminations Registry at least fifteen days prior to the expiry of the initial probationary period and such application shall be processed in the same manner as the application for becoming a volunteer.
• (10) The volunteer shall meet his or her own expenses for staying in Auroville, but in certain cases Auroville Foundation may provide a maintenance.

8. Procedure to become a newcomer.

• (1) A volunteer who wishes to become a newcomer shall make an application to the Admissions and Terminations Registry, not earlier than fifteen days before the expiry of the probation period.
• (2) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall register the application for a newcomer after verifying that the applicant has completed at least three-month period as a volunteer in Auroville, and has completed the Auroville Orientation Programme.
• (3) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall put up the name and relevant details of the applicant on the website of Auroville Foundation, send emails to all residents at their registered email IDs and display on the notice board of the Foundation, inviting the residents to respond within a period of fourteen days to indicate with reasons whether the applicant may be allowed admission as a newcomer.
• (4) If any resident has raised any objection on the admission of newcomer, it shall be accompanied by a written declaration as provided in Appendix B, and proof of the alleged violation committed by the applicant, if any.
• (5) A copy of the validated declaration submitted by a resident raising objection shall be supplied to the applicant, to furnish a response in writing to such feedback within seven days of the last date for furnishing feedback and the confidentiality of the name of the resident shall be maintained.
• (6) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall, compile feedbacks, if any, and response of the applicant and submit to the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee.
• (7) The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall decide each case on merit guided by the conduct of the volunteer, Charter and Auroville Admissions Criteria and Auroville Residence Criteria; and shall communicate its decision to the Admissions and Terminations Registry within seven days of submission of the case. The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee may invite the applicant for an interview before making its decision.
• (8) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall submit the case to the Secretary within two working days of decision being communicated by the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee.
• (9) The Secretary shall either accept the decision of the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising
• Committee or disagree for reasons to be recorded in writing within seven days of submission of the case by the Admissions and Terminations Registry.
• (10) In case of rejection of application, reasons for the same shall be communicated to the volunteer.
• (11) Once the application is approved by the Secretary, the volunteer shall be deemed to be a newcomer, and be permitted to reside in Auroville for a period of one year, extendable up to maximum of two years.
• (12) The probationary period of a newcomer may be extended by the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee, in cases where either the newcomer requests for more time to assess whether he is ready to join as resident, or in cases where the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee finds that the newcomer does not satisfactorily comply with the Auroville Admission Criteria and Auroville Residence Criteria. In both cases, newcomer period shall not exceed a maximum period of twenty four months.
• (13) The newcomer shall attend the Auroville Spiritual and Material Orientation.
• (14) A newcomer shall submit an application to the Admissions and Terminations Registry for extension of stay, at least one month prior to expiry of the initial residency period.
• (15) The Admissions and Terminations Registry within two days of receipt of application forward the request to Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee.
• (16) The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall make a decision on extension of residency period of a probationer along with the recommended period of extension within two days of submission of the case to it by the Admissions and Terminations Registry.
• (17) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall submit the decision of the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee to the Secretary within two days of its receipt.
• (18) The Secretary shall accept the decision of the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee or disagree with its decision for reasons to be recorded in writing within seven days of submission of the case by the Admissions and Terminations Registry. In case of rejection, brief reasons for the same shall be communicated to the applicant.
• (19) The newcomer shall meet his or her own expenses for staying in Auroville, but in certain cases Auroville may provide a maintenance.

9. Procedure for entry of name in the Register of Residents or procedure to become a resident.

• (1) Upon expiry of the period of eleven months as a newcomer, such a newcomer may make an application to the Admissions and Terminations Registry for entry of his or her name in the Register of Residents.
• (2) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall scrutinise the application for removal of defects, if any, in consultation with the applicant within a period of seven days of receipt of the application.
• (3) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall publish the name of the applicant on the website of Auroville Foundation, send emails to all residents at their registered email IDs and display on the notice board of the Foundation inviting the residents to respond within a period of fourteen days to indicate with reasons whether the applicant may be allowed admission as a resident.
• (4) If any resident has raised any objection on the admission of resident, it shall be accompanied by a written declaration as provided in Appendix B, and proof of the alleged violation committed by the applicant, if any.
• (5) A copy of the validated declaration submitted by a resident raising objection shall be supplied to the applicant, to furnish a response in writing to such feedback within seven days of the last date for furnishing feedback and the confidentiality of the name of the resident shall be maintained.
• (6) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall compile feedback or complaints or objections, if any, and response of the applicant and submit to the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee.
• (7) The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall decide each case on merit guided by the Charter, Auroville Admissions Criteria and Auroville Residence Criteria based on feedback or complaints or objections of the residents and shall communicate its decision to the Admissions and Terminations Registry within fourteen days of submission of the case. The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee may invite the applicant for an interview before making its decision.
• (8) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall submit the case to the Secretary within two working days of decision being communicated by Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee.
• (9) The Secretary shall either accept the decision of the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee or disagree for reasons to be recorded in writing within fourteen days of submission of the case by the Admissions and Terminations Registry.
• (10) In case of rejection of application, reasons for the same shall be communicated to the newcomer.
• (11) Once the application of the newcomer is approved for admission by the Secretary, he or she shall be required to sign the declaration provided in Appendix A, and the name of such resident shall be entered in the Register of Residents and such resident shall be permitted to reside in Auroville.
• (12) The entire process shall be completed in compliance with principles of natural justice and the records of the processing shall be maintained for reference at all times.

10. Termination of volunteer or newcomer or resident and removal of name of resident from Register of Residents.

• (1) Any resident or anyone may make a complaint or information or report, substantiated with material, against any volunteer or newcomer or resident for violation of the Auroville Admission Criteria and Auroville Residence Criteria for volunteer or newcomer or resident.
• (2) The complaint shall be made to the Admissions and Terminations Registry.
• (3) Within seven days of receipt of a complaint, the Admissions and Terminations Registry, shall forward the complaint to the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee.
• (4) The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee can also take suo moto cognizance of any misrepresentation, concealment or fraud committed by a volunteer, newcomer or resident in the application process which comes to notice subsequently and treat it as a complaint.
• (5) The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall decide either to close or pursue the complaint, based on verifiability and genuineness, within a period of fourteen days of receipt of complaint from the Admissions and Terminations Registry and convey to Admissions and Terminations Registry. The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee may invite the concerned volunteer or newcomer or resident for an interview before making its decision.
• (6) In case a complaint is to be pursued, the volunteer or newcomer or resident concerned shall be asked to furnish a response on the complaint within fourteen days of such intimation by the Admissions and Terminations Registry.
• (7) Within seven days of receipt of response of the person concerned, the Admissions and Terminations Registry shall prepare a brief of the complaint, response of the person concerned and submit to the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee for a decision.
• (8) The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall decide each case on merit guided by Charter and Auroville Admissions Criteria and Auroville Residence Criteria and material on record. 
• (9) The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall communicate its decision to the Admissions and Terminations Registry within fourteen days of submission of the case to it, recommending any of the following actions, namely:—
• a) terminate the status of the person as a volunteer or newcomer or resident and cause the name of such person to be removed from the list or the register, as the case may be;
• b) issue a public warning or censure to a volunteer or newcomer or resident;
• c) direct the volunteer or newcomer or resident to compensate for any loss or damage caused by him or her and deposit the same with the Auroville Foundation.
• (10) The Admissions and Terminations Registry shall submit the case to the Secretary within seven days of its receipt of recommendations from Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee.
• (11) The Secretary shall either accept the recommendations of the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee or disagree for reasons to be recorded in writing within fourteen days of submission of the case by the Admissions and Terminations Registry.
• (12) In case of termination, a speaking and reasoned order shall be passed indicating whether the person is eligible to apply for re-admission and the period of cooling off after which he or she can re-apply.

11. Removal of any person from Auroville.

If the Central Government has reasons to believe that any volunteer, newcomer, resident or any other person in Auroville, is a threat to national security or possible offender under any Act administered in India, it shall communicate the removal of such person or necessary action to the Governing Board through the Secretary, and the Governing Board shall immediately cause such communication to be put in action with immediate effect.

12. Appeal.

• (1) The Appellate Committee shall consist of three members of the Governing Board nominated by the Chairperson and the tenure of the members of the Appellate Committee shall be coterminus with their tenure as members of the Governing Board.
• (2) The person aggrieved may file an appeal against the rejection of the application for admission, or against termination, to the Appellate Committee, in all matters related to admission or termination from the Register of Residents or the list of volunteers or newcomers.
• (3) The appeal shall be submitted in writing to the Admissions and Terminations Registry duly signed by the appellant.
• (4) No appeal shall be entertained unless such appeal is received within a period of thirty days from the date the decision of the appropriate authority regarding rejection of admission or termination has been communicated to the volunteer, newcomer or resident, as the case may be.
• (5) During the pendency of the appeal, no coercive action shall be taken against the appellant.
• (6) The appeal shall be decided by the appellate Committee within a period of thirty days of receipt of the appeal.
• (7) The decision of the Appellate Committee to confirm or revoke the decision appealed against, shall be final and binding.

13. Restriction on re-admission into Auroville.

• (1) A person who has been removed as a volunteer or newcomer or resident, shall not be eligible to seek re-admission if the order issued for removing the person categorically denies re-admission.
• (2) If the order for removal of a resident provides for re-admission after a lapse of specified period, the person on expiry of the specified period may apply for re-admission as a resident without going through the process of being a volunteer, but completing his or her probationary period as newcomer and such application shall be decided after following the procedure of seeking feedback from the Residents Assembly as in the case of any new resident.
• (3) In case of re-admission of a volunteer or newcomer as the case may be, Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee shall make appropriate recommendations on case by case basis.
• (4) Such person who is eligible for re-admission, shall declare that he or she was removed or terminated from Auroville as a volunteer or newcomer or resident at the time of re-applying.

14. Children of Auroville.

A child of Auroville may, upon turning eighteen, may apply to become a resident of Auroville by following the same admission process as any other applicant; however, neither the probationary period for volunteer nor the minimum residence period for newcomer shall apply, provided that such person has been residing continuously in Auroville for more than eighteen months at the time of making application.

15. Saving.

Unless otherwise provided in these regulations, the persons whose names are in the Register of Residents on the day prior to the coming into force of these regulations shall be deemed to have been allowed admission under the corresponding provisions of these regulations, and shall thus, be governed by these regulations in all matters except the initial admission.

Dr. JAYANTI S. RAVI, Secy.

[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./672/2023-24]

SCHEDULE – I

Admission Criteria and Declaration

1. No person falling in the following parameters shall be permitted to reside in Auroville, namely:-

(a) Any person against whom there is a pending criminal proceedings, arrest warrants or summons from any criminal court;

(b) Is an insolvent.

2. The applicant must either be a citizen of India or Non-Resident Indian or Overseas citizen of India or foreign national holding appropriate visa.

3. Ownership of land or assets within the Master Plan of Auroville shall be declared and sold to Auroville at the time of application to enter Auroville as a resident. Land and assets owned by their family within the Master Plan shall also be declared by the applicant. In case of land owned by applicant, either solely or jointly with family, within the Master Plan, the applicant shall be wait-listed until this land has been sold or donated to Auroville Foundation or otherwise disposed of.

4. At the moment Auroville cannot host people that do not commit to the Charter and life in Auroville. However, an applicant coming to Auroville with aged or infirm parents, and/or their minor children, shall be permitted to live with his or her parent or minor child, and shall ensure that each of the aged or infirm parents are registered as ―Permanent Guests and the children registered as ―Children of Auroville. Permanent Guests and Children of Auroville shall abide by the Auroville Residence Criteria.

5. In case of an applicant whose spouse does not wish to join Auroville, the applicant shall seek permission from the Human Resources Services for the spouse to live inside Auroville, with the applicant. The Spouse thus permitted to live within Auroville shall abide by the Auroville Residence Criteria. 

6. The applicant shall provide all details, pay all fees and make all deposits as required, in accordance with the latest policies, as approved by the Governing Board.

Appendix – A

Declaration

(to be signed by all volunteer or newcomer or resident or Permanent Guest):

By signing this document, I state that I have read the Auroville Charter and Auroville Admission Criteria and Declaration, as outlined above and declare my agreement and compliance with it.

I have also read the latest Auroville Residence Criteria and declare my agreement and compliance with it.

In the event of breach of this agreement of understanding, I understand that I face consequences which may include termination from the List of volunteer or newcomer or from the Register of Residents and expulsion from Auroville.

(In case of persons accepted as Permanent Guests, a joint declaration shall be signed by the person and the resident concerned)

Signature of the applicant
Place :

Date :

Declaration

(to be signed by the resident Complainant):

I hereby declare and solemnly affirm that the contents of the feedback/complaint/objection submitted by me are based on my knowledge and believed to be true and correct. No part of it is false and nothing material has been concealed therefrom.

Signature of the applicant
Place :

Date :