.-(1) The records creating agency shall by an office order authorise an officer not below the rank of the Under Secretary to the Government of India to evaluate and downgrade the classified records being maintained by it. A copy of such office order shall be forwarded to the Director General or Head of the Archives, as the case may be.(2)The officer so authorised under sub-rule (1) shall evaluate the classified records every fifth year for the purpose of down-grading.(3)After down-grading if the officer declares any records as of permanent nature, the same shall be deposited and preserved with the Director General or Head of the Archives, as the case may be, after its appraisal.(4)The records deposited under this rule can be requisitioned for any official purpose and returned to the Director General or Head of the Archives, as the case may be, in the manner provided under rule 6.(5)Every year in the last week of June and December, a half-yearly statement in Form 4 shall be furnished by the officer authorised under sub-rule (1) to the Director General or Head of the Archives, as the case may be, on the action taken for evaluation and downgrading the classified records.
