Section 17: Protection of place of worship from misuse, etc

17. Protection of place of worship from misuse, etc.—(1) A place of worship or shrine, being an antiquity maintained by the Federal Government, shall not be used for any purpose inconsistent with its character. (2) A place of worship or shrine in respect of which the 1[Director­General] has accepted guardianship in pursuance of an agreement under section 12 shall, unless the agreement otherwise provides, be maintained by the person in whom it is vested or, if there is no such person, by the Federal Government. (3) Where any antiquity in respect of which the Federal G overnment has acquired any right under this Act or the 1[Director­General] has accepted guardianship is periodically used for religious worship or observance by any community, the 1[Director General] shall provide for the protection of such antiquity from pollution or desecration— (a) by prohibiting the entry therein, except in accordance with the conditions prescribed with the concurrence of the person in charge of the antiquity, of any person not entitled so to enter by the religious usages of the community by which the antiquity is used ; and (b) by taking with the concurrence of the person in charge of the antiquity such other action as he may think necessary for the purpose. (4) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub­section (3) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.

Effective date: 1975-01-01

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