The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904, was passed on this day, when Lord Curzon was the Viceroy. The British government in India had felt the necessity of an Act that provided for the preservation of ancient monuments, established control over traffic in antiquities and excavation in some cites.
The Act spelt out a few key concepts. It said:
“In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
(1) ‘ancient monument’ means any structure, erection or monument or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith, which is of historical, archeological or artistic interest, or any remains thereof, and includes—
(a) the site of an ancient monument;
(b) such portion of land adjoining the site of an ancient monument as may be required for fencing or covering in or otherwise preserving such monument; and
(c) the means of access to and convenient inspection of an ancient monument…”
One wonders how “repugnant” would be interpreted.
