(1) A protected monument maintained by the Government under this Act, which is a place of worship or shrine shall not be used for any purpose inconsistent with its character.
(2) Where the Government have acquired a protected monument under section 13, or where the Director has purchased or taken a lease or accepted a gift or bequest or assumed guardianship of, a protected monument under section 5, and such monument or any part thereof is used for religous worship or observances by any community, the Director shall make due provision for the protection of such monument or part thereof, from pollution or desecration-
(a) by prohibiting the entry therein, except in accordance with the conditions prescribed with the concurrence of the persons, if any, in religious charge of the said monument or part thereof, of any person not entitled so to enter by the religious usages of the community by which the monument or part thereof is used, or
(b) by taking such other action as he may think necessary in this behalf.
Voluntary contributions.
Protection of place of worship from misuse, pollution or desecration.
[Act No.VII of 1960] 13
17. With the sanction of the Government, the Director may,-
(a) where rights have been acquired by the Director in respect of any monument under this Act, by virtue of any sale, lease, gift or will, relinquish, by notification in the 13Telangana Gazette, the rights so acquired to the persons who would for the time being be the owner of the monument if such rights had not been acquired; or
(b) relinquish any guardianship of a monument which he has assumed under this Act.
18. Subject to any rules made under this Act, the public shall have a right of access to any protected monument.
PROTECTED AREAS.