(1) If the Central Government is of opinion that with a view to conserving antiquities or in the public interest it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that with effect on and from such date as may be specified in the notification, the Central Government or any authority or agency authorised by the Central Government in this behalf shall alone be entitled to carry on the business of selling or offering for sale of antiquities.
(2) On the issue of a notification under sub-section (1),--
(a) it shall not be lawful for any person, authority or agency, other than the Central Government or any authority or agency authorized by the Central Government, to carry on the business of selling or offering for sale any antiquity on and from the date specified therein;
(b) the provisions of this Act, in so far as they relate to the licensing of persons carrying on the business of selling or offering for sale of antiquities shall cease to have effect except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such cesser of operation and section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897) shall apply upon such cesser of operation as if those provisions had been repealed by a Central Act:
Provided that every licence granted under section 8 and in force on the date aforesaid shall, notwithstanding that the period specified therein has not expired, cease to be in force.
(3) Every person whose licence has ceased to be in force under the proviso to clause (b) of sub-section (2) shall, within such period, in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed, make a declaration before the licensing officer of all the antiquities in his ownership, control or possession immediately before the date specified in the notification issued under sub-section (1).