Two more texts on and for Auroville

March 20, 2025 Reading the Supreme Court Verdict.

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Here is the document circulated by the Aurovilians working closely with the Auroville Foundation and its Secretary, informing of the Supreme Court‟ decision. Ruling of the Supreme Court of India in favour of the AV Foundation on March 18, 2025. Press Note by the AVF: “AUROVILLE FOUNDATION Autonomous body under Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India Auroville-605101 Tamil Nadu. Supreme Court Upholds Auroville Foundation’s Authority and Validates Master Plan Implementation. The Auroville Foundation welcomes the recent landmark judgments delivered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on 17th March 2025, which have reinforced the Governing Board’s authority to implement Auroville’s vision as envisioned by the Mother and approved through a statutory Master Plan, and has clarified the role to be played by the Residents’ Assembly. The Auroville Foundation was represented by the Attorney General of India, Mr. R. Venkataramani, Adv. Mr. Vaibhav Venkatesh, the Legal Counsel of the Auroville Foundation, and Adv. Mr. Balaji Srinivasan. Verdict on Environmental Clearance and the Auroville Master Plan In the case of The Auroville Foundation vs. Navroz Kersasp Mody & Ors. (C.A. No(s). 5781-5782 of 2022), the Supreme Co urt: ● Set aside the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directions that had stalled the construction of Crown Road and other essential infrastructure projects aligned with the Auroville Master Plan. ● Affirmed that the Auroville Master Plan— originally envisioned by the Mother, approved in 2001 by the Governing Board and the Government of India, and notified in 2010 — has statutory force and does not require fresh Environmental Clearance (EC). ● Held that the Crown Road and related projects were part of an approved statutory plan and could not be halted by invoking the Precautionary Principle where no substantial question of environmental law was involved. ● Recognized that the area in question (Darkali) was not a forest and did not require clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

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