Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires.

1. (a) '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, archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than seventy five years, and includes
   • (i) the remains of an ancient monument.
   • (ii) the site of an ancient monument.
   • (iii) such portion of land adjoining the site of an ancient or otherwise preserving such monument, and
   • (iv) the means of access to, and convenient inspection of, an ancient monument.
2. (b) 'Archaeological site and remain' means any area which contains or is reasonably believed to contain ruins or relics of historical or archaeological importance which have been in existence for not less than seventy five years and includes
   • (i) such portion of land adjoining the area as may be required for fencing or covering in or otherwise preserving it, and
   • (ii) the means of access to, and convenient inspection of, the area,
3. (c) 'Antiquity' includes
   • (i) any coin, sculpture, manuscript, epigraph, or other work of art of craftsmanship.
   • (ii) any article, object or thing illustrative of science, art, literature, religion, customs, morals or politics in bygone ages.
   • (iii) any article, object or thing of historical interest, and
   • (iv) any article, object or thing declared by the State Govt., by notification in the Official Gazette, to be an antiquity for the purposes of this Act, which has been in existence for not less than seventy five years.
4. (d) 'Collector' means the Collector of a District.
5. (e) 'Construction' means the construction of any structure and includes addition to or alternations of an existing building.
6. (f) 'Land' includes a revenue-free estate and a permanent transferable tenure whether such an estate-tenure be subject to incumbrances or not.
7. (g) 'Maintain' with its Grammatical variations and cognate expressions include the fencing, covering in, repairing, restoring, and cleaning of a protected monument, and the doing of any act which may be necessary for the purpose of preserving a protected monument or of securing convenient access thereto.
8. (h) 'Owner' includes
   • (i) a joint owner invested with powers of management on behalf of himself and other joint-owners and the successor-in-title of any such owner, and
   • (ii) any management or trustee exercising powers of management and the successor-in-office of any such management or trustee.
   • (i) 'Prescribed' means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
9. (j) 'Protected monument' means an ancient monument, archaeological sites or remain which may be declared to be of historical importance by or under this Act.
10. (k) 'Prohibited area' means an area near or adjoining a protected monument which the State Government has, by notification in the official gazette, declared to be a prohibited area by or under this Act.
11. (l) 'Protected area' means any archaeological site and remains which is declared to be of historical or archaeological importance by or under this Act.
12. (m) 'State Archaeological Officer' means an Officer of the Department of Education of the Government of Tripura and includes any officer associated with works related to Archaeological Unit and Govt. Museum as may be authorised by the State Government to perform the duties of the State Archaeological officer.