The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act,1904
17. Power to Central Government to control traffic in antiquities
(1) If the 1[Central Government] apprehends that antiquities are being sold or removed to the detriment of India or of any neighboring country, 2(It) may, by 3(notification in the 4(Official Gazette), prohibit or restrict the bringing or taking by sea or by land of any antiquities or class of antiquities described in the notification into or out of 5(the provinces) or any specified part of 5(the Provinces).
(2) Any person who brings or takes or attempts to bring or take any such antiquities into or out of 5(the provinces) or any part of 5(the provinces) in contravention of a notification issued under sub-section (1), shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
(3) Antiquities in respect of which an offense referred to in sub-section (2) has been committed shall be liable to confiscation.
(4) An officer of Customs, or an officer of Police of a grade not lower than Sub- Inspector, duly empowered by the 1[Central Government) in this behalf, may search any vessel, cart or other means of conveyance and may open any baggage or package of goods, if he has reason to believe that goods in respect of which an offense has been committed under sub-section (2) arecontained therein.
(5) A person who complains that the power of search mentioned in sub-section(4) has been vexatiously or improperly exercised may address his complaint to the 6(Central Government), and the 1[Central Government] shall pass such order and may award such compensation, if any as appears to it to be just.
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1 Subs. by the A. O. 1937, for “G.G. in C.”
2 Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “he”
3 See notification no. 110 dated 28th May,1917, Part-I, p. 989, and notification No. 1385, dated 8th July 1924, Gazette of India,1924, Pt. I,P.614; Gen. R. & O., Vol.-III.
4 Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Gazette of India”
5 Subs. by the A. O. 1948, for “British India”
