In Brief
The Auroville Foundation, a statutory body under the Auroville Foundation Act 1988, issued Standing Order No. 1/2022 reconstituting the Auroville Town Development Council by replacing nominees of the Residents' Assembly with nominees of the Governing Board. Natasha Storey, an Auroville resident, filed a writ petition challenging this, arguing the Residents' Assembly had a right to nominate members. The High Court allowed her petition and set aside the Standing Order. The Supreme Court allowed the Foundation's appeal, holding that the Governing Board has exclusive power to constitute and compose committees under the Act, and the Residents' Assembly has only advisory functions. The Court also found that Storey had failed to disclose a prior dismissed petition on the same issue, amounting to abuse of process.
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