- Type
- Act
- Year
- २०१३ BS · 1956 AD
- Status
- In force
- Category
- खण्ड १६: महिला, बालबालिका, समाज कल्याण तथा संस्कृति · Volume 16: Women, Children, Social Welfare and Culture
- Official text
- Official page Official text (PDF)
- English translation
- Official English translation archived copy: the original page is no longer online
Includes amendments up to: 2066 BS. Translations may not include later amendments. The Nepali text is the authoritative law.
Analysis drawn from official reports, court rulings and published research, each cited. Figures are being double-checked against the source documents; corrections are welcome.
What does it do?
- The Act protects 'ancient monuments' (temples, houses, monasteries, stupas and similar structures more than 100 years old with historical, artistic, scientific or architectural value) and archaeological objects. The government may declare an area around a monument a 'protected monument zone' after posting a public notice; anyone who objects can complain to the government within 35 days. Inside a protected zone, digging, laying utility lines, building roads, filming or parking need permission from the Department of Archaeology. Traditional festivals and dances do not need permission.यो ऐनले १०० वर्ष नाघेका र इतिहास, कला, विज्ञान वा वास्तुकलाका दृष्टिले महत्त्व राख्ने मन्दिर, घर, मठ, गुम्बा, स्तूप जस्ता 'प्राचीन स्मारक' र पुरातात्त्विक वस्तुको संरक्षण गर्छ। सार्वजनिक सूचना टाँसेर नेपाल सरकारले स्मारक रहेको ठाउँलाई 'संरक्षित स्मारक क्षेत्र' घोषणा गर्न सक्छ; चित्त नबुझ्नेले ३५ दिनभित्र सरकारसमक्ष उजुरी दिन सक्छ। संरक्षित क्षेत्रभित्र जमिन खन्न, बिजुली–टेलिफोन लाइन जोड्न, सडक बनाउन, चलचित्र छायाङ्कन गर्न वा सवारी पार्किङ गर्न पुरातत्त्व विभागको स्वीकृति चाहिन्छ। परम्परागत जात्रा, पर्व र नाचगानलाई भने स्वीकृति चाहिँदैन। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Section 2(a)–(b), pp. 2–3; Section 3(1)–(5), pp. 3–4
- Anyone building, repairing or rebuilding a house inside a protected zone must follow the style standards set by the Department of Archaeology. In municipalities, the building plan needs the Department's approval before the municipality can pass it. The Department can stop work that departs from the approved plan, and the local plan-implementation committee or the Chief District Officer can order an illegal building demolished at the owner's cost, with an appeal to the government within 35 days.संरक्षित स्मारक क्षेत्रभित्र घर बनाउँदा, मर्मत, थपघट वा पुनर्निर्माण गर्दा पुरातत्त्व विभागले तोकेको शैली र मापदण्ड पालना गर्नुपर्छ। नगरपालिकाभित्र नक्सा पास गर्नुअघि विभागको स्वीकृति लिनुपर्छ। स्वीकृत नक्साविपरीत काम भए विभागले रोक्न आदेश दिन सक्छ; आदेश नमानेर बनाइएको घर नगर विकास योजना कार्यान्वयन समिति वा प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारीले धनीकै खर्चमा भत्काउन आदेश दिन सक्छन्, र यस्तो आदेशउपर ३५ दिनभित्र नेपाल सरकारमा उजुरी गर्न सकिन्छ। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Section 3(6)–(10), pp. 4–5
- Public ancient monuments belong to the Department of Archaeology, which conserves and repairs them. Private owners must look after their own monuments and need the Department's approval to alter or demolish them. Guthi Sansthan looks after monuments under its control, under the Department's direction. Since a 2075 amendment, monuments of provincial importance are to be handed to provincial governments and those of local importance to local governments, which must follow the Department's standards. Temple and monastery managers must spend up to 50 per cent of offerings on conserving the temple and its surroundings.सार्वजनिक प्राचीन स्मारकको स्वामित्व पुरातत्त्व विभागमा रहन्छ र संरक्षण, मर्मत तथा जीर्णोद्धार विभागले नै गर्छ। निजी स्मारकको संरक्षण धनी आफैँले गर्नुपर्छ, तर मौलिक स्वरूप फेर्न वा भत्काउन विभागको स्वीकृति चाहिन्छ। गुठी संस्थानअन्तर्गतका स्मारक विभागको निर्देशनमा गुठी संस्थानले संरक्षण गर्छ। २०७५ को संशोधनपछि प्रादेशिक महत्त्वका स्मारक प्रदेश सरकारलाई र स्थानीय महत्त्वका स्मारक स्थानीय तहलाई हस्तान्तरण गर्नुपर्छ, र तिनले विभागको मापदण्डअनुसार संरक्षण गर्नुपर्छ। मन्दिर तथा गुम्बाका सञ्चालकले चढेको दान–दक्षिणामध्ये ५० प्रतिशतसम्म रकम सोही मन्दिर वा गुम्बाको संरक्षण र वातावरण सुधारमा लगाउनुपर्छ। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Sections 3A–3E and 3H, pp. 5–7
- Archaeological, historical or artistic objects listed by the government may not be exported, moved or stored without government approval. Owners of private collections with objects over 100 years old must register them, and anyone making or selling 'curios' (modern handicrafts under 100 years old) needs a licence and a government seal on each item. Archaeological excavation needs prior government approval, and finds must be reported within 48 hours. Penalties include fines and prison terms of up to 15 years for destroying or stealing a monument; Chief District Officers and designated officials can search premises and arrest suspects.सरकारले सूचीकृत गरेका पुरातात्त्विक, ऐतिहासिक वा कलात्मक वस्तु सरकारी स्वीकृतिबिना विदेश निकासी गर्न, एक ठाउँबाट अर्को ठाउँ सार्न वा संग्रह गर्न पाइँदैन। १०० वर्षभन्दा पुराना वस्तु भएका निजी संग्रहका धनीले ती वस्तु दर्ता गराउनुपर्छ। क्युरियो (१०० वर्ष ननाघेका आधुनिक हस्तकला) उत्पादन वा बिक्री गर्न इजाजतपत्र लिनुपर्छ र हरेक वस्तुमा सरकारबाट स्वीकृत निस्सा लगाउनुपर्छ। पुरातात्त्विक उत्खननका लागि पूर्वस्वीकृति चाहिन्छ, र उत्खननमा भेटिएका वस्तुको जानकारी ४८ घण्टाभित्र दिनुपर्छ। स्मारक नष्ट गर्ने वा चोर्नेलाई जरिवाना र बढीमा १५ वर्षसम्म कैद हुन सक्छ। प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारी वा तोकिएको अधिकारीले खानतलासी गरी अभियुक्त पक्राउ गर्न सक्छन्। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Section 12, pp. 10–11; Section 13(1)–(6), pp. 11–13; Section 16, pp. 13–14
Gaps, loopholes and improvement ideas
- Unclear Responsibilities are unclear across the three levels of government. The Constitution puts ancient monuments on both the federal list and the shared list. The Auditor General found that the work, duties and responsibilities of each level in heritage conservation have not been defined and that the federal government has not set standards for provinces and local levels. The result is duplicated work, higher costs, slower decisions and coordination that needs strengthening. Examples include disputes over the reconstruction style of Bhadrakali temple (Kathmandu) and Narayan temple (Kirtipur), and the Department of Archaeology budgeting conservation work that local governments had already completed.तीन तहका सरकारबीच जिम्मेवारी अस्पष्ट छ। संविधानले प्राचीन स्मारकलाई सङ्घको अधिकार सूची र साझा अधिकार सूची दुवैमा राखेको छ। महालेखापरीक्षकका अनुसार सम्पदा संरक्षणमा कुन तहको के काम, कर्तव्य र जिम्मेवारी हो भन्ने किटान भएको छैन र सङ्घले प्रदेश तथा स्थानीय तहका लागि मापदण्ड बनाएको छैन। यसले कामको दोहोरोपना, लागत र समय वृद्धि, निर्णयमा ढिलाइ र समन्वय सुदृढ गर्नुपर्ने अवस्था निम्त्याएको छ। उदाहरणका लागि भद्रकाली मन्दिर (काठमाडौँ) र कीर्तिपुरको नारायण मन्दिरको पुनर्निर्माण शैलीमा विवाद भयो, र स्थानीय तहले सम्पन्न गरिसकेका संरक्षण कार्यका लागि पनि पुरातत्त्व विभागले बजेट विनियोजन गर्यो। Office of the Auditor General, Nepal · Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal OAG 63rd Annual Report, performance audit 'Records and management of heritage in Kathmandu Valley', paras 3, 5 and 8, printed pp. 654–656 (PDF pp. 690–692); Act s. 3H, p. 7
- Not enforced The 50 per cent rule on temple offerings is not monitored. Section 3E requires temple and monastery managers to spend up to 50 per cent of offerings on conserving the site. The Auditor General found that offerings at Boudhanath, Dakshinkali, Budhanilkantha, Changunarayan and other sites are collected by local guthis, but nobody monitors their income and spending, and no records show that the required share went to conservation. Guthi Sansthan has not issued any guideline on managing offerings.मन्दिरको भेटीको ५० प्रतिशत नियम अनुगमन हुँदैन। दफा ३ङ ले मन्दिर तथा गुम्बाका सञ्चालकले भेटीको ५० प्रतिशतसम्म रकम संरक्षणमा खर्च गर्नुपर्ने व्यवस्था गरेको छ। महालेखापरीक्षकका अनुसार बौद्धनाथ, दक्षिणकाली, बूढानीलकण्ठ, चाँगुनारायण लगायतका सम्पदाको भेटी स्थानीय गुठीले उठाउँछन्, तर आय–व्ययको अनुगमन हुँदैन र ऐनअनुसारको रकम संरक्षणमा खर्च भएको अभिलेख छैन। गुठी संस्थानले भेटीघाटी व्यवस्थापनसम्बन्धी कुनै निर्देशिका बनाएको छैन। Office of the Auditor General, Nepal · Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal OAG 63rd Annual Report, heritage performance audit, para 11, printed p. 657 (PDF p. 693); Act s. 3E, p. 6
- Not enforced Building rules in protected zones are approved but not checked. Under section 3(7), the Department of Archaeology must approve building plans in protected monument zones. In two years the Department approved plans for 82 private houses in protected zones, but it did not monitor whether they were built as approved. Buildings it had itself identified as violating the standards, including a restaurant next to Kumari Ghar at Hanumandhoka, were referred to other agencies without follow-up. Approvals for local governments' work took between one and ten months.संरक्षित क्षेत्रमा भवन स्वीकृति त दिइन्छ, तर जाँच हुँदैन। दफा ३(७) अनुसार संरक्षित स्मारक क्षेत्रको भवनको नक्सा पुरातत्त्व विभागले स्वीकृत गर्नुपर्छ। विभागले दुई वर्षमा संरक्षित क्षेत्रका ८२ निजी घरको नक्सामा सहमति दियो, तर स्वीकृतिअनुसार घर बने–नबनेको अनुगमन गरेन। हनुमानढोकाको कुमारी घरछेउको एक रेस्टुरेन्ट लगायत मापदण्डविपरीत भनेर विभाग आफैँले पहिचान गरेका भवनबारे अन्य निकायलाई पत्राचार गरिए पनि त्यसको कार्यान्वयन भएन। स्थानीय तहका कामका लागि सहमति दिन १ महिनादेखि १० महिनासम्म लाग्यो। Office of the Auditor General, Nepal · Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal OAG 63rd Annual Report, heritage performance audit, paras 12–13, printed p. 657 (PDF p. 693); Act s. 3(6)–(8), p. 4
- Capacity Inventories and stolen-heritage recovery are incomplete. By 2069/70 the Department had listed 5,178 heritage sites, 3,178 of them in Kathmandu Valley, but the list had not been digitised or put online. The Auditor General also reported that 201 stolen statues and art objects had been returned from abroad over 38 years, but 96 statues and other objects with photographic proof of Nepali origin were still held by foreign museums.सम्पदाको अभिलेख र चोरिएका सम्पदा फिर्ता गर्ने काम अधुरो छ। २०६९/७० सम्म विभागले देशभर ५,१७८ सम्पदा सूचीकृत गरेको थियो, जसमध्ये ३,१७८ काठमाडौँ उपत्यकामा छन्, तर उक्त विवरण डिजिटल बनाएर वेबसाइटमा राखिएको छैन। महालेखापरीक्षकका अनुसार ३८ वर्षमा चोरिएका २०१ मूर्ति तथा कलात्मक वस्तु विदेशबाट फिर्ता आए, तर नेपालकै भनी फोटोसहित प्रमाणित भएका ९६ मूर्ति लगायतका ऐतिहासिक वस्तु अझै विदेशी सङ्ग्रहालयमा छन्। Office of the Auditor General, Nepal OAG 63rd Annual Report, heritage performance audit, paras 6 and 9, printed pp. 655–656 (PDF pp. 691–692)
Ideas to fix it
- Set clear jurisdiction and standards that follow the Constitution, and define each level of government's role, approval process, inspection and reporting in a federal-compatible way. Make clear legal provisions so that disputes between the ministry, the Department of Archaeology, provincial ministries and local governments do not arise.संविधानअनुसार स्पष्ट क्षेत्राधिकार र मापदण्ड बनाउने, र तहगत सरकारको भूमिका, स्वीकृति प्रक्रिया, निरीक्षण र प्रतिवेदनलाई सङ्घीयताअनुकूल बनाउने। मन्त्रालय, पुरातत्त्व विभाग, प्रदेश मन्त्रालय र स्थानीय तहबीच विवाद नहुने स्पष्ट कानूनी व्यवस्था गर्ने। Proposed by: Office of the Auditor General (63rd Annual Report) Office of the Auditor General, Nepal
- Issue a guideline so that the share of offerings required by the Act is spent on the repair and reconstruction of religious sites, and act on it.ऐनले तोकेको भेटीको रकम धार्मिक स्थलको जीर्णोद्धार र पुनर्निर्माणमा खर्च गर्न निर्देशिका बनाई सोअनुसार काम गर्ने। Proposed by: Office of the Auditor General (63rd Annual Report) Office of the Auditor General, Nepal
Where does it conflict with other laws?
- गुठी संस्थान ऐन, २०३३
The Auditor General reported that Guthi Sansthan claims ownership of the land of temples and other heritage sites across the country, while the ownership of Pashupati, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and other sites is disputed between their area development committees and the guthis running them. It called for harmonising the Guthi Sansthan Act, the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, the development-committee Acts and their regulations so that ownership of tangible and intangible heritage is settled.महालेखापरीक्षकका अनुसार देशभरका मठमन्दिर लगायतका सम्पदाको जग्गा आफ्नो स्वामित्वमा रहेको गुठी संस्थानको दाबी छ, तर पशुपति क्षेत्र, स्वयम्भूनाथ, बौद्धनाथ लगायतका सम्पदाको जग्गामा सम्बन्धित विकास समिति र त्यहाँ सञ्चालित गुठीबीच स्वामित्व विवाद छ। प्रतिवेदनले गुठी संस्थान ऐन, प्राचीन स्मारक संरक्षण ऐन र सम्बन्धित क्षेत्र विकास समितिका ऐन–नियमबीच सामञ्जस्य कायम गरी मूर्त र अमूर्त सम्पदाको स्वामित्व किटान गर्न भनेको छ। Office of the Auditor General, Nepal · Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal OAG 63rd Annual Report, heritage performance audit, para 4, printed p. 654 (PDF p. 690); Act ss. 3B–3C, pp. 5–6
Open questions for lawmakers
Research candidates on possible conflicts, gaps or loopholes involving this law. Not legal findings: each awaits qualified legal review.