No change to one-year extension to Auroville Secretary post repatriation to Gujarat cadre

The Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, Jayanti S. Ravi, whose repatriation to the Gujarat cadre was approved by the Cabinet Appointments Committee in August, will continue to serve at the helm of the universal township without any change to the one-year extension of her deputation granted by the Ministry of Education, it is learnt.

Ms. Jayanti Ravi, a 1991 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, had assumed office as Secretary of Auroville Foundation in July, 2021 for a three-year term.

In July, the Ministry of Education extended the deputation tenure consequent upon the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and the Department of Personnel and Training, for a further period of one year “with effect from July 5, 2024, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, on existing terms and conditions”.

A month later — in August 2024 — the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the “premature repatriation” of Ms. Jayanti Ravi, to her parent cadre (Gujarat).

According to sources, the repatriation does not interfere with the extension of deputation until any further superseding order was issued by the competent authority.

“Through the repatriation order, the competent authority is facilitating the availability of her services in Gujarat in this case, without any change to her existing role, until further orders”, sources said.

Meanwhile, VCK MP D. Ravikumar raised the status of the post of Auroville Foundation Secretary, along with a set of other questions pertaining to Auroville, in the Lok Sabha on December 2.

To a starred question on whether the post of Secretary to the Auroville Foundation was vacant, and if not, the criteria adopted thereof, for appointment to the office, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan responded that the present incumbent was appointed in accordance with due process vide order dated June 1, 2021. Further, the Ministry of Education has issued tenure-related orders on July 4, 2024, the Minister had stated. (The Union Minister’s reference related to the Education Ministry’s July order granting a one-year extension to the tenure of the Secretary.)

Governing board meet

Sources in Auroville, meanwhile, said Ms. Jayanti Ravi was scheduled to attend a meeting of the governing board of the Auroville Foundation this week.