13

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 ANCIENT MONUMENTS 13. Protection of place of worship from misuse, pollution or desecration.------‑(1) A place of worship or shrine maintained by the Government under this Act shall not be used for any purpose inconsistent with its character. [(1A) A place of worship (Sub‑section (1A) ins. ibid., s. 5.) or a shrine in respect of which an order of protection or preservation under this Act has been made shall be maintained by the person or body in whom it‑is vested, or if there is no such person or body, by the Government, and a rule made under this section may provide that any person contravening the same shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to one hundred rupees, and, in the case of a continuing contravention, with a further fine of ten rupees for every day during which the contravention continues.] (2) Where the (Subs. by Act 84 of 1950, s. 5, for "Collector".)[Director] has, under section 4, purchased or taken a lease of any protected monument, or has accepted a gift or bequest, or (The words "the Commissioner" omitted, ibid.)* * has, under the same section, accepted the guardianship thereof, and such monument, or any part thereof, is periodically used for religious worship or observances by any community, the (Subs. by the Ancient Monuments Preservation (Amdt.) Act, 1950 (84 of 1950), s. 5, for "Collector".)[Director] shall make due provision for the protection of such monument, or such part thereof, from pollution or desecration‑ (a) by prohibiting the entry therein, except in accord ance with conditions prescribed with the concurrence of the persons in religious charge of the said monu ment 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.