THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND REMAINS ACT, 1958

ACT NO. 24 OF 1958 · Enacted [28th August, 1958.] · 63 sections

PRELIMINARY

Section 1.Short title, extent and commencement.

Section 2.Definitions.

Section 2A.Construction of references to any law not in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND REMAINS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE

Section 3.Certain ancient monuments, etc., deemed to be of national importance.

Section 4.Power of Central Government to declare ancient monuments, etc., to be of national importance.

Section 4A.Categorisation and classification in respect of ancient monuments or archaeological sites and remains declared as of national importance under sections 3 and 4.

PROTECTED MONUMENTS

Section 5.Acquisition of rights in a protected monument.

Section 6.Preservation of protected monument by agreement.

Section 7.Owners under disability or not in possession.

Section 8.Application of endowment to repair a protected monument.

Section 9.Failure or refusal to enter into an agreement.

Section 10.Power to make order prohibiting contravention of agreement under section 6.

Section 11.Enforcement of agreements.

Section 12.Purchasers at certain sales and persons claiming through owner bound by instrument executed by owner.

Section 13.Acquisition of protected monuments.

Section 14.Maintenance of certain protected monuments.

Section 15.Voluntary contributions.

Section 16.Protection of place of worship from misuse, pollution or desecration.

Section 17.Relinquishment of Government rights in a monument.

Section 18.Right of access to protected monuments.

PROTECTED AREAS

Section 19.Restrictions on enjoyment of property rights in protected areas.

Section 20.Power to acquire a protected area.

NATIONAL MONUMENTS AUTHORITY

Section 20-I.Functions and powers of Authority.

Section 20-O.Bar of jurisdiction of civil court.

Section 20F.Constitution of National Monuments Authority.

Section 20G.Selection Committee for selection of members of Authority.

Section 20H.Salary, allowances and meetings of Authority.

Section 20J.Removal of Chairperson and members.

Section 20K.Restriction on future employment by Chairperson and members.

Section 20L.Power of Central Government to issue directions to Authority.

Section 20M.Power of Central Government to issue directions to competent authority.

Section 20N.Power of Central Government to supersede Authority.

Section 20P.Annual report.

Section 20Q.Power to call for information.

PROHIBITED AND REGULATED AREAS

Section 20A.Declaration of prohibited area and carrying out public work or other works in prohibited area.

Section 20B.Declaration of regulated area in respect of every protected monument.

Section 20C.Application for repair or renovation in prohibited area, or construction or re-construction or repair or renovation in regulated area.

GRANT OF PERMISSION BY COMPETENT AUTHORITY

Section 20D.Grant of permission by competent authority within regulated area.

Section 20E.Heritage bye-laws.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Section 21.Excavations in protected areas.

Section 22.Excavations in areas other than protected areas.

Section 23.Compulsory purchase of antiquities, etc., discovered during excavation operations.

Section 24.Excavations, etc., for archaeological purposes.

PROTECTION OF ANTIQUITIES

Section 25.Power of Central Government to control moving of antiquities.

Section 26.Purchase of antiquities by Central Government.

PRINCIPLES OF COMPENSATION

Section 27.Compensation for loss or damage.

Section 28.Assessment of market value or compensation.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 29.Delegation of powers.

Section 30.Penalties.

Section 30A.Punishment for construction, etc., in prohibited area.

Section 30B.Punishment for construction, etc., in regulated area.

Section 30C.Offences by officers of Government.

Section 31.Jurisdiction to try offences.

Section 32.Certain offences to be cognizable.

Section 33.Special provision regarding fine.

Section 34.Recovery of amounts due to the Government.

Section 35.Ancient monuments, etc., which have ceased to be of national importance.

Section 35A.Obligation to survey the protected prohibited area and regulated areas.

Section 35B.Identification of unauthorised constructions on or after 16th June, 1992.

Section 36.Power to correct mistakes, etc.

Section 37.Protection of action taken under the Act.

Section 38.Power to make rule.

Section 39.Repeals and savings.