Section 19 in The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904
19. Purchase of sculptures, carvings or like objects by the Government .-(1) If the [Central Government] apprehends that any object mentioned in a notification issued under section 18, sub-section (1), is in danger of being destroyed, removed, injured or allowed to fall into decay, the [Central Government] [Substituted by A.O. 1937. ] may pass orders for the compulsory purchase of such object at its market-value and the Collector shall thereupon give notice to the owner of the object to be purchased.
(2)The power of compulsory purchase given by this section shall not extend to-(a)any image or symbol actually used for the purpose of any religious observance; or(b)anything which the owner desires to retain on any reasonable ground personal to himself or to any of his ancestors or to any member of his family.[ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION] [Substituted by Act 18 of 1932, Section 3. ]
