State of Andhra Pradesh - Act
THE TELANGANA ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND REMAINS ACT, 1960
ANDHRA PRADESH
India
India
THE TELANGANA ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND REMAINS ACT, 1960
Act 7 of 1960
- Published on 25 February 1960
- Not commenced
- [This is the version of this document from 22 April 2001.]
- [Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]
[The Andhra Pradesh Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960 in force in the combined State, as on 02.06.2014, has been adapted to the State of Telangana, under section 101 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Central Act 6 of 2014) vide. the Telangana Adaptation of Laws Order, 2016, issued in G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016.]PRELIMINARY(1)This Act may be called the [Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016] Telangana Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960. (2)It extends to the whole of the State of [Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016] Telangana. (3)It shall come into force on such [Came into force on 15th September, 1960] date as the State Government may, by notification in the [Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016] Telangana Gazette, appoint. (a)‘ancient monument’ means any structure, erection or monument or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith, which is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than [seventy five years ((Substituted by Act No.19 of 2001))] and includes-(i)the remains of an ancient monument; (ii)the site of an ancient monument, (iii)such portion of land adjoining the site of an ancient monument as may be required for fencing or covering in or otherwise preserving such monument, and (iv)the means of access to, and convenient, inspection of, an ancient monument but does not include any ancient or historical monument declared by or under law made by Pariiament to be of national importance;(b)‘antiquity’ includes-(i)any coin, sculpture, manuscript, epigraph, or other work of art or craftsmanship, (ii)any article, object or thing detached from a building or cave, (iii)any article, object or thing illustrative of science, art, crafts, literature, religion, customs, morals or politics in bygone ages, (iv)any article, object or thing, of historical interest, and (v)any article, object or, thing declared by the Government; by notification in the Telangana Gazette, to be an antiquity for the purposes of this Act, which has been in existence for not less than [seventy five years ((Substituted by Act No.19 of 2001))]. (c)‘archaeological officer’ means any officer of the Department of Archaeology of the Government not lower in rank than Assistant Director of Archreology; (d)‘archaeological site and remains’ means any area which contains or is reasonably believed to contain ruins or relics of historical or archaeological importance which have been in existence for not less than [seventy five years ((Substituted by Act No.19 of 2001))], and includes-(i)such portion of land adjoining the area as may be required for fencing or covering in or otherwise preserving it, and (ii)the means of access to, and convenient inspection of the area; but does not include any archaeological site or remains declared by or under law made by Parliament to be of national importance;(e)‘Director’ means the Director of Archaeology and includes any officer authorised by the Government to perform the duties of the Director; (f)‘Government’ means the Government of [Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016] Telangana; (g)‘maintain’ with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, includes the fencing, covering in, repairing, restoring and cleansing of a protected monument, and the doing of any act which may be necessary for the purpose of preserving a protected monument or of securing, convenient access thereto; (h)‘owner’ includes-(i)a joint owner invested with powers of management on behalf of himself and other joint owners and the successor-in-title of any such owner; and (ii)any manager or trustee exercising powers of management and the sucessor-in-office of any such manager or trustee; (i)‘prescribed’ means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (j)‘protected area’ means any archaeological site and remains which is declared to be a protected area by or under this Act; (k)‘Protected monument’ means an ancient or historical monument which is declared to be a protected monument by or under this Act. PROTECTION OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND REMAINS(1)Where the Government are of opinion that any ancient monument or archaeological site and remains not included in section 3 requires protection under this Act, they may, by notification in the [Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016] Telangana Gazette give two months’ notice of their intention to declare such ancient monument or archaeological site and remains, to be a protected monument or a protected area as the case may be and a copy of every such notification shall be affixed in a conspicuous place near the monument or the site and remains, as the case may be. (2)Any person interested in any such ancient monument or archaeological site and remains may, within two months after the issue of the notification, object to the declaration of the monument, or the archaeological site and remains, to be a protected monument or a, protected area. (3)On the expiry of the said period of two months, the Government may, after considering the objections, if any, received by them, declare by notofication in the 10Telangana Gazette, the ancient monument or the archaeological site and remains, as the case may be, to be a protected monument or a protected area. (4)A notification published under sub-section (3) shall, unless and until it is withdrawn be conclusive evidence of the fact that the ancient monument or the archaeological site and remains to which it relates, is a protected monument or a protected area for the purposes of this Act.PROTECTED MONUMENTS (1)The Director may, with the sanction of the Government, purchase, or take a lease of, or accept a gift or bequest of, any protected monument. (2)Where a protected monument is without an owner, the Director may, by notification in the [Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016]Telangana Gazette, assume the guardianship of the monument. (3)The owner of any protected monument may, by written instrument, constitute the Director the guardian of the monument, and the Director may, with the sanction of the Government, accept such guardianship. (4)When the Director has accepted the guardianship of a monument under sub-section (3), the owner shall, except as expressly provided in this Act, have the same estate, right, title and interest in and to the monument, as if the Director had not been constituted a guardian thereof;and the provisions of this Act relating to agreements executed under section 6 shall apply to the written instrument executed under sub-section (3). (5)Nothing in this section shall affect the use of any protected monument for customary religious observances. (1)The Director, when so directed by the Government, shall propose to the owner of a protected monument to enter into an agreement with the Government within a specified period, for the maintenance of the monument. (2)An agreement under this section may provide for all or any of the following matters namely:—(a)the maintenance of the monument; (b)the custody of the monument and the duties of any person who may be employed to watch it; (c)the restriction of the owner’s right(i)to use the monument for any purpose; (ii)to charge any fee for entry into, or inspection of, the monument; (iii)to destroy, remove, alter or deface the monument; or (iv)to build on or near the site of the monument; (d)the facilities of access to be permitted to the public or any section thereof or to archaeological officers or to persons deputed by the owner or any archaeological officer or other officer or authority authorised by the Government to inspect or maintain the monument; (e)the notice to be given to the Government in case the land on which the monument is situated or any adjoining land is offered for sale by the owner, and the right to be reserved to the Government to purchase such land, or any specified portion of such land, at its market value; (f)the payment of any expenses incurred by the owner or by the Government in connection with the maintenance of the monument; (g)the proprietory or other rights which are to vest in the Government in respect of the monument when any expenses are incurred by the Government in connection with the maintenance of the monument; (h)the appointment of an authority to decide any dispute arising out of the agreement; and (i)any matter connected with the maintenance of the monument which is a proper subject of agreement between the owner and the Government. (3)The Government or the owner may, at any time, after the expiration of three years from the date of execution of an agreement under this section, terminate it on giving six months’ notice in writing to the other party:Provided that where the agreement is terminated by the owner, he shall pay to the Government the expenses, if any, incurred by them on the maintenance, of the monument during the five years immediately preceding the termination of the agreement or, if the agreement has been in force for a shorter period, during the period the agreement was in force. (4)An agreement under this section shall be binding on any person claiming to be the owner of the monument to which it relates, from, through or under a party by whom or on whose behalf the agreement was executed. (1)If the owner of a protected monument is unable, by reason of minority or other disability, to act for himself, the person legally competent to act on his behalf may exercise the powers conferred upon an owner by section 6. (2)In the case of a protected monument which is a village property, the headman or other village officer exercising powers of management over such property may exercise the powers conferred upon an owner by section 6. (3)Nothing in this section shall be deemed to empowerany person not being of the same religion as the person on whose behalf he is acting to make or execute an agreementrelating to a protected monument which or any part of whichis periodically used for the religious worship or observancesof that religion. (1)If any owner or other person competent to enter into an agreement under section 6 for the maintenance of, a protected monument refuses or fails to enter into such an agreement, and if any endowment has been created for the purpose of keeping such monument in repair or for that purpose among others, the Government may institute a suit in the court of the district judge or, if the estimated cost of repairing the monument does not exceed one thousand rupees, may make an application to the district judge, for the proper application of such endowment or part thereof. (2)On the hearing of an application under sub-section (1) , the district judge may, summon and examine the owner and any person whose evidence appears to him necessary and may pass an order for the proper application of the endowment or any part thereof, and any such order may be executed as if it were a decree of a civil court. (1)If any owner or other person competent to enter into an agreement under section 6 for the maintenance of a protected monument refuses or fails to enter into such an agreement, the Government may make an order providing for all or any of the matters specified in sub-section (2) of section 6, and such order shall be binding on the owner or such other person and on every person claiming title to the monument from, through or under, the owner or such other person. (2)Where an order made under sub-section (1) provides that the monument shall be maintained by the owner or other person competent to enter into an agreement, all reasonable expenses for the maintenance of the monument shall be payable by the Government. (3)No order under sub-section (1) shall be made unless the owner or other person has been given an opportunity of making a representation in writing against the proposed order. (1)If the Director apprehends that the owner or occupier of a protected monument intends to destroy, remove, alter, deface, imperil, or misuse the monument or to build on or near the site thereof in contravention of the terms of an agreement executed under section 6, the Director may, after giving the owner or occupier an opportunity of making a representation in writing, make an order prohibiting any such contravention of the agreement:Provided that no such opportunity need be given in any case where the Director for reasons to be recorded, is satisfied that it is not expedient or practicable to do so. (2)Any person aggrieved by an order made under this section may appeal to the Government within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed, and the decision of the Government shall he final. (1)If an owner or other person who is bound to maintain a monument by an agreement executed under section 6 refuses or fails within such reasonable time as the Director may fix, to do any act which in the opinion of the Director is necessary for the maintenance of the monument, the Director may authorise any person to do any such act and the owner or other person shall be liable to pay the expenses of doing any such act or such portion of the expenses as the owner may be liable to pay under the agreement. (2)If any dispute arises regarding the amount of expenses payable by the owner or other person under sub-section (1), it shall be referred to the Government whose decision shall be final. (1)The Government shall maintain every monument which has been acquired under section 13 or in respect of which any of the rights mentioned in section 5 have been acquired. (2)When the Director has assumed the guardianship of a monument under section 5, he shall, for the purpose of maintaining such monument, have access to the monument at all reasonable times, by himself and by his agents, subordinates and workmen, for the purpose of inspecting the monument and for the purpose of bringing such materials and doing such acts as he may consider necessary or desirable for the maintenance thereof. (1)A protected monument maintained by the Government under this Act, which is a place of worship or shrine shall not be used for any purpose inconsistent with its character. (2)Where the Government have acquired a protected monument under section 13, or where the Director has purchased or taken a lease or accepted a gift or bequest or assumed guardianship of, a protected monument under section 5, and such monument or any part thereof is used for religous worship or observances by any community, the Director shall make due provision for the protection of such monument or part thereof, from pollution or desecration-(a)by prohibiting the entry therein, except in accordance with the conditions prescribed with the concurrence of the persons, if any, in religious charge of the said monument or part thereof, of any person not entitled so to enter by the religious usages of the community by which the monument or part thereof is used, or (b)by taking such other action as he may think necessary in this behalf. (a)where rights have been acquired by the Director in respect of any monument under this Act, by virtue of any sale, lease, gift or will, relinquish, by notification in the [[Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated01.06.2016]] Telangana. Gazette, the rights so acquired to the persons who would for the time being be the owner of the monument if such rights had not been acquired; or (b)relinquish any guardianship of a monument which he has assumed under this Act. (1)No person, including the owner or occupier of a protected area, shall construct any building within the protected area or carry on any mining, quarrying, excavating, blasting, or any operation of a like nature in such area, or utilise such area or any part thereof in any other manner without the permission of the Government:Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to prohibit the use of any such area or part thereof for purposes of cultivation if such cultivation does not involve the digging of not more than one foot of soil from the surface. (2)The Government may, by order, direct that any building constructed by any person within a protected area in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be removed within a specified period and if the person refuses or fails to comply with the order, the Director may cause the building to be removed and the person shall be liable to pay the cost of such removal. (1)Where, as a result of any excavations made in any area under section 21 or section 22, any antiquities are discovered, the archaeological officer or the licensee, as the case may be, shall,-(a)as soon as practicable examine such antiquities and submit a report to the Government in such manner and containing such particulars as may be prescribed; (b)at the conclusion of the excavation operations, give notice in writing to the owner of the land from which such antiquities have been discovered, as to the nature of such antiquities. (2)Until an order for the compulsory purchase of any such antiquities is made under sub-section (3), the archaeological officer or the licensee, as the case may be, shall keep them in such safe custody as he may deem fit. (3)On receipt of a report under sub-section (1), the Government may make an order for the compulsory purchase of any such antiquities at their market value. (4)When an order for the compulsory purchase of any antiquities is made under sub-section (3), such antiquities shall vest in the Government with effect from the date of the order. (1)If the Government consider that any antiquities or class of antiquities ought not to be moved from the place where they are without their sanction, the Governmment may by notification in the [Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016] Telangana Gazette, direct that any such antiquity or any class of such antiquities shall not be moved except with the written permission of the Director. (2)Every application for permission under sub-section (1) shall be in such form and contain such particulars as may be prescribed. (3)Any person aggrieved by an order refusing permission may appeal to the Government whose decision shall he final. (1)If the Government apprehend that any antiquity mentioned in a notification issued under sub-section (1) of section 25, is in danger of being destroyed, removed, injured, misused or allowed to fall into decay or are of opinion that, by reason of its historical or archaeological importance, it is desirable to preserve such antiquity in a public place, the Government may make an order for the compulsory purchase of such antiquity at its market value and the Director shall thereupon give notice to the owner of the antiquity to be purchased. (2)Where a notice of compulsory purchase is issued under sub-section (1) in respect of any antiquity, such antiquity shall vest in the Government with effect from the date of the notice. (3)The power of compulsory purchase given by this section shall not extend to any image or symbol actually used for bonafide religious observances.PRINCIPLES OF COMPENSATION. (1)The market value of any property which the Government is empowered to purchase at such value under this Act, or the compensation to be paid by the Government in respect of anything done under this Act, shall, where any dispute arises in respect of such market value or compensation, be ascertained in the manner provided in sections 3, 5, 8 to 34, 45 to 47, 51 and 52 of 16the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (Central Act 1 of 1894), so far as they can be made applicable:Provided that, when making an enquiry under the said Land Acquisition Act, the Collector shall be assisted by two assessors, one of whom shall be a competent person nominated by the Government and one person nominated by the owner, or in case the owner fails to nominate an assessor within such time as may be fixed by the Collector in this behalf, by the Collector. (2)Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1) or in [See now the provisions of Central Act 30 of 2013 wherein this Act has been repealed] the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (Central Act 1 of 1894), in determining the market value of any antiquity in respect of which an, order for compulsory purchase is made under sub-section (3) of section 23 or under sub-section (1) of section 26, any increase in the value of the antiquity by reason of its being of historical or archaeological importance shall not be taken into consideration.MISCELLANEOUS. (1)Whoever-(i)destroys, removes, injures, alters, defaces, imperils or misuses a protected monument, or (ii)being the owner or occupier of a protected monument contravenes an order made under sub-section (1)of section 9 or under sub-section (1) of section 10, or(iii)removes from a protected monument any sculpture, carving, image, bas-relief, inscription or other like object, or (iv)does any act in contravention of sub-section (1) of section 19, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both. (2)Any person who moves any antiquity in contravention of a notification issued under sub-section (1) of section 25 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees; and the court convicting a person of any such contravention may, by order, direct such person to restore the antiquity to, the place from which it was moved. (1)The Government may, by notification in the [Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016] Telangana. Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. (2)In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-(a)the prohibition or regulation by licensing or otherwise of mining, quarrying, excavating, blasting or any operation of a like nature near a protected monument or the construction of buildings on land adjoining such monument and the removal of unauthorised buildings; (b)the grant of licences and permissions to make excavations for archaeological purposes in protected areas, the authorities by whom, and the restrictions and conditions subject to which, such licences may be granted, the taking of securities from licensees and the fees that may be charged for such licences; (c)the right of access of the public to a protected monument and the fee, if any, to be charged therefor; (d)the form and contents of the report of an archaeological officer or a licensee under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 23; (e)the form in which applications for permission under section 19 or section 25 may be made and the particulars which they should contain; (f)the form and manner of preferring appeals under this Act and the time within which they may be preferred; (g)the manner of service of any order or notice under this Act; (h)the manner in which excavations and other like operations for archaeological purposes may be carried on; (i)any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed. (3)Any rule made under this section may provide that a breach thereof shall be punishable,—(i)in the case of a rule made with reference to clause (a)of sub-section (2), with imprisonment which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both; (ii)in the case of a rule made with reference to clause (b)of sub-section (2), with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees; (iii)in the case of a rule made with reference to clause (c) of sub-section (2), with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. (4)All rules made under this section shall, as soon as may be after they are made, be laid on the Table of both the Houses of the State Legislature for fourteen days and shall be subject to such modification, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as the State Legislature may make during the session in which they are so laid. (1)The Hyderabad Ancient Monuments Preservation Act (Hyderabad Act VIII of 1337 Fasli) is hereby repealed. (2)The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 (Central Act 7 of 1904), shall cease to have effect in relation to ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains declared by or under this Act to be protected monuments or protected areas, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the commencement of this Act.