(1) The State Government may, by notification, declare an ancient monument to be protected monument within the meaning of this Act.
(2) A copy of every notification published under Sub-section (1) shall be fixed up in a conspicuous place on or near the monument, together with an intimation that any objections to the issue of the notification received by the State Government within one month from the date when it is so fixed up will be taken into consideration.
(3) On the expiry of the said period of one month the State Government after considering the objections, if any, shall confirm or withdraw the notification.
(4) A notification published under this section shall, unless and until it is withdrawn, be conclusive evidence of the fact that the monument to which it relates, is an ancient monument within the meaning of this Act.
4. Acquisition of right in or guardianship of an ancient monument.
- (1) The Collector may, with the sanction of the State Government, purchase or take a lease of any protected monument.
(2) The Collector with the like sanction, may accept a gift or bequest of any protected monument.
(3) The owner of any protected monument may, by written instrument, constitute the Commissioner the guardian of the monument and the Commissioner may, with the sanction of the State Government, accept such guardianship.
(4) When the Commissioner has accepted the guardianship of a monument under Sub-section (3) the owner shall, except as expressly provided in this Act, have the same estate, right, title and interest in and to the monument as if the Commissioner had not been constituted guardian thereof.
(5) When the Commissioner has accepted the guardianship of a monument under Sub-section (3) the provisions of the Act relating to agreements executed under Section 5 shall apply to the written instrument executed under the said sub-section
(6) Where a protected monument is without an owner, the Commissioner may assume the guardianship of the monument.