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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 PROTECTION OF SCULPTURES, CARVINGS, IMAGES, BAS RELIEFS, INSCRIPTIONS OR LIKE OBJECTS. 19. Purchase of sculptures, carvings or like objects by the Government.------‑(1) If (Subs. by A. O., 1937, for "the L. G.".)[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, (Ins by the Ancient Monuments Preservation (Amdt.) Act, 1950 (84 of 1950), s. 8.)[or is of opinion that it should be preserved in the interests of archaeological or historical research,] (Subs. by A. O., 137, for "the L. G.".)[the Central Government] 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 pur chased. (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.