Pondicherry SAS Model For Puttaparthi?
The Andhra Pradesh government is studying the takeover case of Sri Aurobindo society, Pondicherry, by the Union government, to consider whether the same model could be followed to set right the Sathya Sai Baba Central Trust founded by spiritual guru Sathya Saibaba.
According to sources, some ministers have impressed upon chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy that the government could appoint an administrator to oversee the functioning of the trust without disturbing its current shape and structure as was done in the case of Sri Aurobindo Society (SAS) in 1988.
The sources in the government are thoroughly convinced that the government could take over the trust and run by appointing an administrator. "However, the point is that given the international nature of the Satya Sai Trust, does the state government have the locus standi to take over the management with an act or ordinance? This is being examined now," said a minister connected with the matter.
As is common knowledge after Satya Saibaba's passing away , Prashanthi Nilayam is going through a situation similar to the one that prevailed in the Sri Aurobindo Society after the demise of Madame M Alfasse, affectionately called the Mother, on 17th of November, 1973. Following the Mother's demise, a number of problems of a disturbing nature affected the smooth running of SAS and Auroville project, the minister said.
On receiving complaints about mismanagement at Auroville, an international cultural township project and misuse of funds by the Sri Aurobindo Society, the Government of India set up a committee under the chairmanship of the Governor of Pondicherry with representatives of the Government of Tamil Nadu and of the Union ministry of home affairs to look into the matter.
The committee made a detailed scrutiny of the accounts of SAS relating to Auroville and submitted a report in 1977. The committee found instances of serious irregularities such as mis-utilization of its funds and their diversion to other purposes, in the management of the society. It even reported the existence of law and order problem in Pondicherry, the minister told TOI. According to the minister, who is backing the taking over of the Satya Sai Trust, the union government issued the Auroville (Emergency Provisions) Ordinance, on November 10, 1980. One month later, the ordinance was replaced by an Act of Parliament and the Government of India took over the management of Auroville from the Sri Aurobindo Society. The centre then appointed a retired high court judge as Administrator who would be assisted by a deputy administrator, the minister said.
Though the takeover was challenged by SAS, a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, headed by then Chief Justice Y V Chandrachud, upheld the government decision, the minister said. Later, an International Advisory Council was set up under the Act to advise the Government of India on Auroville matters. In September 1988, the Government of India protected Auroville once again by passing an Act of Parliament, the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988.