Auroville Foundation Act, 1988
No: 54 Dated: Sep, 29 1988
Auroville Foundation Act, 1988
(Act No. 54 of 1988)
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 accordance 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 (59 of 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 I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title.—This Act may be called the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988.
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “appointed day” means the date of commencement of this Act;
(b) “Auroville” means so much of the undertakings as form part of, or are relatable to, the cultural township which is known as Auroville and the charter of which was proclaimed by the „Mother‟ on the 28th day of February, 1988;
(c) “Council” means the Auroville International Advisory Council constituted under sub-section (1) of section 21;
(d) “Custodian” means the person who is appointed as the Custodian under sub-section (2) of section 7 in respect of the undertakings;
(e) “Foundation” means the Auroville Foundation established under sub-section (1) of section 10;
(f) “Governing Board” means the Governing Board of the Foundation constituted under sub-section (1) of section 11;
(g) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(h) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(i) “Residents Assembly” means the Residents‟ Assembly of the Foundation;
(j) “Society” means Sri Aurobindo Society, being a Society as defined in the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961 (West Bengal Act XXVI of 1961), and having its registered office at Calcutta in the State of West Bengal;
(k) “specified date” means such date as the Central Government may, for the purpose of section 9, by notification, specify;
(l) “trust” or “body” means a trust or body specified in the Schedule;
(m) “undertakings” means the undertakings of the Society, trust or body which had vested in the Central Government under section 3.