Vidhi Codex

The Maharashtra Public Records Act, 2005

The Maharashtra Public Records Act, 2005

General200518 sections

This Act establishes the rules for managing public records in Maharashtra. It applies to the State Government, local authorities such as municipal councils, and other public bodies that create or hold documents. The law requires these agencies to properly preserve, store, and organize important papers, while also regulating how citizens can access them. By ensuring that historical and administrative information is secure and systematically catalogued, the Act helps maintain government transparency and accountability while preserving the state’s cultural and administrative history for future generations.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Short title and commencement.
  2. 2. Definitions.
  3. 3. Power of Government to co-ordinate, regulate and supervise operations connected with administration, management, etc., of public records.
  4. 4. Prohibition against taking of public records out of Maharashtra.
  5. 5. Records officer.
  6. 6. Responsibilities of records officer.
  7. 7. Records officer to take appropriate action in event of unauthorised removal, destruction, etc., of public records in his custody.
  8. 8. Destruction or disposal of public records.
  9. 9. Penalty for contravention.
  10. 10. Public records bearing security classification.
  11. 11. Receipt of records from private sources.
  12. 12. Access to public records.
  13. 13. State Archival Advisory Board.
  14. 14. Functions of Board.
  15. 15. Power of Director to lay down norms and standards for courses in archival science.
  16. 16. Protection of action taken in good faith.
  17. 17. Power to make rules.
  18. 18. Power to remove difficulty.

PDF: pending for this language.