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Minutes of the Meeting

Date and Venue: Raj Bhavan, 9

th October 2024.

Present: The GB Chairman Shri.R.N.Ravi; Francois Gautier; Arun Ambathy, Balamurugan;

Jeyandira Saraswathi and Padmanabhan.

The meeting started with Francois’s representation of the current administrative situation in

Auroville, viz., (1) Land deals, financial losses caused and encroachments; (2) Visa issues; (3)

Vacuum created in the functioning of Auroville, by the absence of the Secretary; (4) the

ongoing issues with adverse administrative and financial implications.

1. Francois proposed that the Governing Board may consider appointing 2 Aurovilians as

GB members, following the previous GB format. Padmanabhan referred to Aster Patel

and Krishna Tiwari holding such GB position in the past. The Chairman resonated with

the proposal and expressed that he is not the right authority to address this, and the

Ministry is the appropriate authority who could consider this, where, he would also do

his part to propose this to the Ministry. The Chairman suggested Francois to make the

suggestion to the Ministry, which, the Chairman will also support.

2. The wrong decisions of the working groups such as FAMC, land board represented by

Krishnamoorthy and Meenakshi and Mr. Seetharaman quoting Madam Jayanthi Ravi’s

instructions were brought to his attention, which he immediately refuted affirming that

she is not the Secretary anymore and hence, she cannot give any instructions to the

working groups. When Francois insisted that Madam Jayanthi Ravi’s interference in the

day-to-day administration is still there through few working group members, he repeated

again that she is not the Secretary and she cannot interfere in the administration. He

insisted on this thrice. He asked for substantial proof regarding former Secretary’s

interference through the working group members.

3. Francois represented on the redressal of ongoing visa issues, to which the Chairman

responded agreeing to the stagnancy in processing the Visa applications and assured

that there will be no more holding of visa matters and that the Governor has ordered to

process the applications swiftly.

4. Regarding the appointment of new Secretary, the Chairman stated that till the new

Secretary comes Mr. Seetharaman will act as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with

limited authority. The Chairman, however, confirmed that Mr. Seetharaman cannot act

as Secretary.

5. Regarding the land scams, he assured to look into all the issues and shall take necessary

legal action against the wrong doings. The delegates explained in detail:

(1) the AVF led land transactions where huge financial loss has been caused to

Auroville;

(2) the rampant land encroachment and the inaction on the part of the Foundation

office to tackle the encroachments with legal action;

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(3) the documents substantiating corruption in land exchange dealings by the

Auroville Foundation Section officer Ms. Meenakshi and the Secretary appointed

land board member Krishnamoorthy;

(4) Auroville Foundation’s current practice of exclusive land exchange to real estate

brokers instead of dealing with the land owners directly and the adverse impression

it had left in the minds of the villagers, were explained to the Chairman.

(5) possible recovery of the prime lands that Auroville has lost in the recent past and

an effective mechanism against losing any further lands, under the existing land

administration team Ms. Meenakshi and Krishnamoorthy.

6. The Chairman assured that he will do the needful if we provide him with all the material

evidences of such wrong doings in land deals, administrative decisions by working

groups causing adverse financial implications on Auroville, and such other matters that

adversely affect Auroville functions, in order to enable him to take legal actions.

7. Francois asked about the appointment of new Secretary and the timeframe thereof, to

which the Chairman replied that considering the existing vacuum in the effective

functioning of Auroville, the Government may expedite the appointment of new

Secretary soon.