Antiquities

About:

Antiquities returned:

• Vishnu and Lakshmi with Garuda, dating to the 11th century C.E., which was allegedly stolen from a temple in Central India.
• A Chola-era Sambandar bronze idol, a Chola-era Devi idol in stone, bronze idols of Vinayaga, Narasimha with Lakshmi, a wooden idol of Muruga and wooden chauri bearers are other items that had been taken from Tamil Nadu. 

Antiquities:

• “Antiquity” is an article or object that is at least 100 years old.
• It could be a coin, sculpture, painting or epigraph, or any object or article taken from a building or a cave, or anything that illustrates the science, art, crafts or customs or religion or literature of a bygone age, or anything of historical interest.
• If it is a manuscript or record of any scientific, historical, literary or aesthetic value, it should be at least 75 years’ old.
• An art treasure is a human work of art, other than an antiquity, declared to be a treasure by the Centre for its artistic value after the artist’s death.
• Antiquities in India are governed by The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 which falls within the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India (“ASI”), Union Ministry of Culture.

Possession of an antiquity:

• Possession of an unregistered antiquity is a punishable offence under law.
• Section 14(3) of the Act makes it mandatory for “every person who owns, controls or is in possession of any antiquity” to register it before a registering officer within 15 days of its coming into his control or possession and obtain a certificate of registration.
• Antiquities can be sold, but only by a licensed person. However, Section 3 of the Act prohibits export of an antiquity by anyone other than the Centre or its agencies. 

Punishment:

• A jail term of six months, or with fine, or both. Besides, the antiquity is also liable to be confiscated.

Source : The Hindu

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