The ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND REMAINS ACT, 1958

PRELIMINARY

Section 1 — Short title, extent and commencement.

(1) This Act may be called the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. (2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Browse all 63 sections
  1. 1.Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2.Definitions.
  3. 2A.Construction of references to any law not in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
  4. 3.Certain ancient monuments, etc., deemed to be of national importance.
  5. 4.Power of Central Government to declare ancient monuments, etc., to be of national importance.
  6. 4A.Categorisation and classification in respect of ancient monuments or archaeological sites and remains declared as of national importance under sections 3 and 4.
  7. 5.Acquisition of rights in a protected monument.
  8. 6.Preservation of protected monument by agreement.
  9. 7.Owners under disability or not in possession.
  10. 8.Application of endowment to repair a protected monument.
  11. 9.Failure or refusal to enter into an agreement.
  12. 10.Power to make order prohibiting contravention of agreement under section 6.
  13. 11.Enforcement of agreements.
  14. 12.Purchasers at certain sales and persons claiming through owner bound by instrument executed by owner.
  15. 13.Acquisition of protected monuments.
  16. 14.Maintenance of certain protected monuments.
  17. 15.Voluntary contributions.
  18. 16.Protection of place of worship from misuse, pollution or desecration.
  19. 17.Relinquishment of Government rights in a monument.
  20. 18.Right of access to protected monuments.
  21. 19.Restrictions on enjoyment of property rights in protected areas.
  22. 20.Power to acquire a protected area.
  23. 20A.Declaration of prohibited area and carrying out public work or other works in prohibited area.
  24. 20B.Declaration of regulated area in respect of every protected monument.
  25. 20C.Application for repair or renovation in prohibited area, or construction or re-construction or repair or renovation in regulated area.
  26. 20D.Grant of permission by competent authority within regulated area.
  27. 20E.Heritage bye-laws.
  28. 20F.Constitution of National Monuments Authority.
  29. 20G.Selection Committee for selection of members of Authority.
  30. 20H.Salary, allowances and meetings of Authority.
  31. 20-I.Functions and powers of Authority.
  32. 20J.Removal of Chairperson and members.
  33. 20K.Restriction on future employment by Chairperson and members.
  34. 20L.Power of Central Government to issue directions to Authority.
  35. 20M.Power of Central Government to issue directions to competent authority.
  36. 20N.Power of Central Government to supersede Authority.
  37. 20-O.Bar of jurisdiction of civil court.
  38. 20P.Annual report.
  39. 20Q.Power to call for information.
  40. 21.Excavations in protected areas.
  41. 22.Excavations in areas other than protected areas.
  42. 23.Compulsory purchase of antiquities, etc., discovered during excavation operations.
  43. 24.Excavations, etc., for archaeological purposes.
  44. 25.Power of Central Government to control moving of antiquities.
  45. 26.Purchase of antiquities by Central Government.
  46. 27.Compensation for loss or damage.
  47. 28.Assessment of market value or compensation.
  48. 29.Delegation of powers.
  49. 30.Penalties.
  50. 30A.Punishment for construction, etc., in prohibited area.
  51. 30B.Punishment for construction, etc., in regulated area.
  52. 30C.Offences by officers of Government.
  53. 31.Jurisdiction to try offences.
  54. 32.Certain offences to be cognizable.
  55. 33.Special provision regarding fine.
  56. 34.Recovery of amounts due to the Government.
  57. 35.Ancient monuments, etc., which have ceased to be of national importance.
  58. 35A.Obligation to survey the protected prohibited area and regulated areas.
  59. 35B.Identification of unauthorised constructions on or after 16th June, 1992.
  60. 36.Power to correct mistakes, etc.
  61. 37.Protection of action taken under the Act.
  62. 38.Power to make rule.
  63. 39.Repeals and savings.