The Asiatic Society Act, 1984

Summary of The Asiatic Society Act, 1984
Key Provisions
1. Declaration: - Declares the Asiatic Society (with its registered office in Calcutta) as an institution of national importance.
2. Definitions: - Defines key terms such as "memorandum", "prescribed", "regulations", and "Society".
3. Financial Provisions: - Grants, Loans, etc. (Section 4): The Central Government may provide financial assistance to the Society for its activities.
• Audit of Accounts (Section 5): Mandates the Society to maintain accounts, audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, with reports submitted to the Central Government and laid before Parliament.
4. Reporting and Oversight: - Annual Report (Section 6): The Society must submit an annual report of its activities to the Central Government, to be laid before Parliament.
5. Restrictions and Approvals: - Prior Approval Necessary (Section 7): The Society requires prior Central Government approval for altering its purposes, memorandum, regulations, selling/disposing of certain properties, or dissolution.
6. Governance and Advisory Bodies: - Planning Board (Section 8): The Central Government may establish a Planning Board to advise on the Society’s developmental programmes.
• Committees (Section 9): The Central Government can constitute committees for specific duties related to the Society’s work and financial planning.
7. Operational Oversight: - Review, Inspection, and Evaluation (Section 10): The Central Government can form a Committee for reviewing the Society’s work, inspecting assets, and evaluating its performance, with the Society entitled to representation.

Legislative History:

The Asiatic Society Act, 1984

Act Title - The Asiatic Society Act, 1984

Act Number/Year - 5 of 1984

Act ID (India Code) - 198405

Presidential Assent Date - March 23, 1984

Enforcement Date - June 25, 1984

Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Culture

Precedent & Historical Rationale

1. Preservation of Priceless Heritage and Historical Legacy:

o The Asiatic Society, originally founded in Calcutta in 1784 by Sir William Jones, is one of the world's premier institutions for Oriental research, housing an invaluable collection of rare manuscripts, ancient texts, coins, artifacts, and a vast library of historical literature.

o Despite its immense cultural and historical significance, the Society faced severe financial constraints, administrative challenges, and deteriorating infrastructure for preserving its archival treasures under its existing society registration framework.

2. Declaration of National Importance and Statutory Reorganization:

o The legislative intent centered on declaring the Asiatic Society in Calcutta as an institution of national importance to ensure direct financial backing and patronage from the Central Government.

o The Act provided for the incorporation of the Society under a statutory framework, vested its management in a designated council, and empowered it with a secure administrative and financial structure to protect, preserve, and promote research in humanities and oriental studies.

Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment

• Formulation: Drafted by the Ministry of Education and Culture (now Ministry of Culture) to commemorate the bicentenary of the institution and safeguard its unique repository of knowledge and historical heritage.

• Parliamentary Passage: Introduced, deliberated, and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) during the budget session of 1984.

• Presidential Assent: Received Presidential Assent on March 19, 1984.

• Enforcement: Enforced on June 1, 1984.

• Source: Official Records of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Culture.