Sri Aurobindo Ashram is always open to any fair enquiry and has nothing to hide, maintained The Golden Chain Fraternity (Alumni Organisation of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education) in response to demand for an inquiry on allegations against the Ashram and appointment of Administrative Officer raised by MLAs in the territorial Assembly.
They indicated that Ashram is open to judicial inquiry by retired Judge or by a sitting judge of High court and have nothing to hide.
Chief Minister N Rangasamy during the budget session had stated that the stay granted by High Court on the government inquiry will be vacated. Also an administrator to oversee the functioning of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust would be appointed after consulting the law department.
Around 120 members including ashram inmates who called on the AINRC MLAs Ashok Anand and P R Siva last night, stated that they feel that there is a calculated attempt being made by a few disgruntled and misguided members in the community with active help from outside to wrest power from the present board of trustees.
In a memorandum submitted to Anand, they stated that these individuals will stop at nothing to pursue their agenda, even if this results in damaging the reputation of the Ashram.
They urged the MLAs to convey to these people to seek legal remedies under the law of the land and not indulge in a campaign of vilification. The allegation with regard to human rights violation has already been taken up by National Commission for Women. An inquiry was taken up by the Commission following complaints to the then chairperson of the Commission Poornima Advani during her visit to Puducherry. The commission of inquiry found the allegations baseless.
Explaining the Ashram’s opposition to the previous inquiry by the Deputy Collector on similar allegation in court, they stated that the inquiry was biased and not a free and fair one.
The mala fide intent of the collector’s office was apparent when the government chose to appoint Cyril Vincent as their counsel. This became a matter of suspicion as Vincent has been representing the litigants in cases against the ashram. In the face of an unfair and mala fide enquiry, the only option left to the ashram was to seek justice from the courts, defended Ashram inmates.
The investigating officer, the Deputy Collector, failed to provide specific instances of dereliction of duty on part of the ashram authorities. On the contrary, he has sought to solicit complaints by forcibly pasting notices on ashram premises.