2-A

THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS PRESERVATION ACT, THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS PRESERVATION ACT, 1904. ACT No. VII of 1904 [18th March, 1904] An Act to provide for the preservation of Ancient Monuments and objects of archaeological, historical or artistic interest. WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the preservation of ancient monuments, for the exercise of control over traffic in antiquities and over excavation in certain places, and for the pro tection and acquisition in certain cases of ancient monuments and of objects of archaeological, historical or artistic interest [2A.‑(1). For the purpose of ascertaining (S. 2A ins. by the Ancient Monuments Preservation (Amdt.) Act, 1950, (84 of 1950), s. 2.)whether the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder are being complied with or should be applied in respect of any place or area, the Director or any officer of the Survey authorised by him in this behalf in writing may, subject to any rules made under this Act, enter and inspect any place or area which he may have reason to believe to be or to contain an ancient monument or which in his opinion may contain buried or other antiquities: Provided that no place or area actually in use for religious purposes shall be so entered save by a person who professes that religion, and that no such place or area nor any place or area in bona fide private occupation shall be so entered save with the per mission of the person or body having the right to grant the same. (2) Where such permission is refused without reasonable cause the matter shall be referred by the Director or officer auth orised by him as aforesaid to the Collector who after such enquiry as he thinks fit may authorise the entry and inspection on such conditions as he may consider necessary. (3) Where the place or area to be inspected is closed and the whereabouts of the person or body having the right to grant permission as aforesaid are not known an application in this behalf shall be made by the Director or officer aforesaid to the Collector, who, after such enquiry as he thinks fit, and after publication of a notice in the prescribed manner requiring such person or body to open the place or area within such time as may be stated in the notice, may, upon such conditions as he may consider necessary, authorise the Director or officer aforesaid to open and enter the place or area and inspect the same. (4) The Director or officer aforesaid may, subject to any rule made under this Act and under the conditions specified in the preceding sub‑sections enter any such place or area mentioned in sub‑section (1) for the purpose of causing any site or building, monument, remains or antiquities therein to be photographed, copied or reproduced by any process suitable for the purpose.]