Section 25: Dealing in antiquities

25. Dealing in antiquities.—(1) No person shall deal in antiquities except under, and in accordance with, a licence granted by the 1[Director­General]. (2) Every dealer shall maintain a register in such manner and form as the 1[Director­General] may prescribe from time to time. (3) A licence granted under sub­section (1) may be cancelled by the 1[Director­General] for the breach of any condition of the licence. 1Subs. by the Antiquities (Amdt.) Act, 1992 (21 of 1992), s. 2, for “Director”. (4) The 1[Director-General] may, with a view to securing compliance with the provisions of this section,— (a) require any person dealing in antiquities to give such information in his possession with respect to any business carried on by him as the 1[Director­General] may demand ; (b) inspect or cause to be inspected any book, register or other document belonging to or under the control of any person dealing in antiquities ; and (c) enter and search, or authorise any officer subordinate to him to enter and search, any premises and seize, or authorise any such officer or a police officer, to seize, any antiquity in respect of which he has reason to believe that a contravention of any provision of this section or a breach of any condition of the licence has been committed. (5) Whoever contravenes the provisions of this section shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. (6) The Court trying an offence under sub­section (5) may direct that any antiquity in respect of which the offence has been committed shall stand forfeited to the Federal Government.

Effective date: 1975-01-01

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