10(H)/JK/S/O
KASHMIR TIMES, JAMMU, 23 OCT 07
87-yr old J&K Ancient Monuments Preservation Act craves for
amendment
Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Oct 22: With state government adopting a "Chalta Hai" attitude, Jammu and
Kashmir Ancient Monuments Preservation Act promulgated in the year 1920 AD remains
un-amended and Director Archaeology declares the monuments as preserved when the
Act has given powers to Superintendent of Archaeology (a post currently non-existent in
the department) for the same.
Officials maintain that state government changed the nomenclature of the department and
subsequently the term "Superintendent of Archaeology" was replaced by "Director
Archaeology, Archives and Museum". But when asked about the procedure adopted for
the same, they fail to explain. In wake of this conflicting situation, government states that
the Act is being amended.
It is important to mention here that Act is called as Jammu and Kashmir Ancient
Monuments Preservation Act, Svt.1977 (1920 AD). Sanctioned by Dogra King Maharaja
Partap Singh as per the then Chief Minister's endorsement No.8372, dated September 11,
1920 read with the state council resolution no.1 dated April 8, 1925, (Notification No.14L/81), the Act provides for preservation of ancient monuments and objects of
archaeological, historical or artistic interest. The Act also provides for the preservation of
ancient monuments, for exercise of control over traffic in antiquities, for protection and
acquisition of ancient monuments.
When asked, the government reply confuses. "The Act is complete. Why it should be
modified when it serves the purpose. We have to preserve the monuments which is being
done efficiently. As far as archives is concerned, we have framed a committee," said a
top government functionary who requested anonymity. It is important to note here that
elsewhere in the country, there are three independent departments of Museum,
Archaeology and Archives each governed by its own rules and regulations.
To add further, each department has a hierarchy of its own functionaries with wellexplained assignments. Scientists and experts in archaeology dominate the departments.
Interestingly, a team of experts even submitted a report to the state government
impressing upon it to modify the Act and bring it at par with the needs of the modern age.
But a reluctant government scuttled the issue midway and framed a committee of its own
which has been holding meetings and organizing festival while the royal record is
decaying with each passing day.
The Act empowers the Superintendent of Archaeology to purchase or take lease of any
protected monument and the other sections of the Act empower him to take all the
important decisions with regard to preservation, prevention and acquisition of an ancient
monuments or object of historical or archaeological significance. But ask the department
officials and they would tell you that Director is the Superintendent of the department.
They further say that functioning and preservation are two different facets. They add that
state government has provided the department with "gifted individuals" to look after it. A
senior officer of the higher education department said that the department has been
reduced to a rehabilitation centre of the favourites and those searching greener pastures
with lesser load of work. "Only an expert can tell you that the Act needs to be amended
and the department needs to be kept away from the Babudom, technically sound people
are requirement of this department because it has to preserve our past. And it is an
established fact that the past by and large haunts Babus and Mantris," added the officer.
Experts maintain that the Act cannot be called effective in view of the changed global
perspective towards these objects of premier significance. They add that Act needs to be
amended and brought at par with those existing in rest of the country.
They further say that with the dawn of independence, this department in the state was
rendered insignificant. These experts who have at some point of time tried to convince
the state government to change its methodology of dealing with this department maintain
that a cursory glance at the record rooms of this department in the twin capital cities of
Jammu and Srinagar brings out a sordid tale of disregard and neglect that this department
has encountered for the last 60 years.
These experts are disgruntled over the fact that post-independence era has seen the retired
government officers, intellectuals from other fields and famed political figures heading
this department which used to be headed by archaeologists of repute, historians of
international fame and other during the Dogra rule. Records also suggest that a number of
committees pondered over the dismal state of affairs of the department but nothing
conspicuous has come out so far. Ruined infrastructure, decaying records and a deaf and
dumb government is what dominates the discourse.
Present committee headed by Minister for Roads and Buildings Gulchain Singh Charak is
no exception. It has done a lot of talking, held a number of meetings but nothing has
changed in the department. A state where history has a connotation and consequence of
its own, Department of Archaeology, Archives and Museum which is essentially
regarded as treasure house of decisive government records, documents, newspapers,
ancient monuments and vital historical artifacts continues to be governed by an Act
which is 87 year old and was promulgated during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh.