Admission and Termination

• ATR — Admissions & Terminations Registry,
• ATSC — Admissions & Terminations Scrutinising Committee.

ATR — Admissions & Terminations Registry 

Your first point of contact. ATR is the operational hub that coordinates information, documents, community notifications, and records across the admissions lifecycle.

What ATR provides

• Application intake: Receives applications (volunteer, newcomer, resident).
• Community notifications: Publishes notices to the Residents’ Assembly about applicants and solicits reasoned feedback.
• Letter of Recommendation for Entry Visa application intake: Receives visa‑related applications for recommendation by ATSC and onward recommendation to the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation.
• Complaints handling intake: Receives complaints or information about possible violations of the Auroville Admission Criteria, Residence Criteria, policies or principles.
• Appeals intake: Receives appeals for the Appellate Committee.
• RoR: Assists the Secretary in maintaining the Register of Residents.
• Annual survey: Conducts the yearly survey of persons residing in Auroville.
• Secretarial assistance: Provides secretarial support to ATSC, the Secretary, and the Appellate Committee in admission and termination matters.

Contact ATR: atr@auroville.org.in

(For office hours and location, see the main “Process” page.)

ATSC — Admissions & Terminations Scrutinising Committee 

Independent scrutiny and recommendations. ATSC is a committee constituted by the Governing Board under sub-section (1) of section 16 of the Auroville Foundation Act. Its mandate is to examine applications and cases on merit guided by the Charter, the Auroville Admissions Criteria and the Auroville Residence Criteria.

What ATSC provides

• Merit‑based scrutiny of applications: Reviews Volunteer, Newcomer, and Resident applications received through ATR and reaches a reasoned decision based on merit after community consultation.
• Visa recommendations: Verifies visa‑related applications and recommends the appropriate visa to the Secretary.
• Complaint review & integrity oversight: Examines complaints or information concerning volunteers, newcomers, or residents; determines whether to close or pursue a case; and submits reasoned recommendations on remedies to the Secretary.
• Annual records review: Reviews the ATR’s yearly survey of persons residing in Auroville and furnishes it to the Secretary for placing before the Governing Board.
• Due‑process assurance: Ensures that principles of natural justice are observed, including the right to be heard and the use of validated material.

How to reach ATSC: Contact ATR first. ATR routes complete case files and communications to ATSC.

Appeal process: The Appellate Committee

The Appellate Committee is constituted by the Governing Board and consists of three Governing Board members. It hears appeals against admission or termination orders issued by the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation. The Committee must decide within 30 days of receiving the appeal whether to confirm or revoke the decision under appeal; its decision is final and binding. Appeals must be submitted in writing to ATR.