3.5L antiquities over 100 years old privately registered in India: ASI

As many as 3.5 lakh antiquities aged more than 100 years are registered with private individuals across the country, the Archaeological Survey of India said. These artefacts include idols, paintings and wooden artefacts.

As per Section 14 of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act 1972, anyone who “owns, controls, or is in possession” of any antiquity shall register it before the registering officer. The ASI identifies any object older than 100 years as antiquities, and for documents and manuscripts, the article must be over 75 years old.

Sculptures and idols made of stone, terracotta, and ivory, as well as paintings, manuscripts and wooden sculptures, come under the purview of the Act. Coins were earlier included in the Act, but due to their sheer numbers, registration of coins was discontinued.

Dr Alok Tripathi, ADG at ASI, said that the low rate of registration is due to the reluctance of people to come forward.

“People are reluctant because they fear the government will take control. Once an item is registered, it cannot be taken out of the country, and people need to inform the ASI if it is relocated within the country or its ownership changes,” Tripathi said.

Former culture minister Prahlad Patel carried out a drive to have more people register antiquities.

Changes in law

The ASI is also mulling changes in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. But it does not intend to amend the Places of Worship Act 1991, despite mounting pressure on the government.

In a meeting of the ASI’s Advisory Board, held Tuesday for the first time since 2014, the archeological body said that the process to amend the 1958 Act was initiated and a committee will be formed soon to look at the details.

This is the advisory body’s first meeting since it was reconstituted last month. Members include the Director Generals of ASI and National Museum, former DGs of the ASI, a representative of the ministry of culture, the chairperson of the United Grants Commission and representatives of states. The union minister of culture G Kishan Reddy and ministers of state Meenakshi Lekhi and Arjun Ram Meghwal were also present.

This was the archaeological body’s 37th meeting, and as many as 42 issues put forward by several stakeholders like states and universities were taken up.