The Nagoya District Court Dec. 12 ordered Nagoya City to nullify the Naka Ward decision to reject the attempted relocation of the Nagoya branch of the cult formally called Aum Shinrikyo (now
known as Aleph), and also ordered officials to pay ¥30,000 in compensation.
"There are no laws stipulating that possible danger from someone moving
into an area can be grounds for a municipality's refusal to accept the mover's
change of address notification. (Nagoya City's) action was illegal," the
court said.
A 31-year-old female cult member initially claimed that it was unlawful for the
ward to stop her from filing a change of address notification when the branch
was transferred there. She demanded that Nagoya nullify the rejection and was
seeking restitution of ¥1 million.
The decision showed the judge's recognition of the ward's actions, which
indicated sympathy with the requests of the local residents, who were fearful
of the cult. "The religious group has not yet been wiped out and
influential power of its guru and other cohorts still remains.
Based on this kind of understanding, however, the judge decided, "When a
mover submits a change of address notification, municipal leaders should accept
the document and update its local register.
"Leaders cannot consider circumstances such as organized opposition by
local residents," the judge said.