The Nagoya District Court ruled Wednesday that the city government's rejection in August of an Aum Shinrikyo member's residence registration documents was unconstitutional.
Presiding Judge Yukio Kato ordered the Nagoya Municipal Government to nullify its decision and ruled that Mayor Takehisa Matsubara pay 30,000 yen in compensation to the cultist. The female Aum member had demanded 1 million yen in damages.
"There is no legal basis for authorities to reject residency registration papers because of opposition by local residents," Kato said.
According to the court, the 31-year-old woman, who was not identified, moved from Nishi Ward to Naka Ward on Aug. 1 when Aum's Nagoya branch moved.