The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library Act, 1969

Summary of The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library Act, 1969:
Objective:
To declare the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library at Patna, Bihar, as an institution of national importance and to provide for its administration.
Key Provisions:
1. Declaration: - Declares the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library as an institution of national importance.
2. Establishment of the Board: - Establishes the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library Board as a body corporate.
• Composition:
• Governor of Bihar (ex officio, Chairman)
• Accountant General, Bihar (ex officio)
• A member from the family of Maulvi Khuda Bakhsh Khan Bahadur
• Eight members (four each from Central and State Governments, preferably with library administration knowledge)
• Director of the Library (ex officio, Member-Secretary)
3. Board's Responsibilities and Powers:
• Duties:
• Manage the Library.
• Implement development programs on modern scientific lines.
• Advise Central and State Governments on library matters.
• Preserve and conserve manuscripts, books, and other articles.
• Publish bibliographies, assist in publications, and promote symposia/seminars.
• Powers:
• Acquire, hold, dispose of property.
• Contract and sue/be sued.
• Purchase/acquire manuscripts, books, etc., for the Library.
4. Financial and Administrative Provisions: - Fund: Establishment and management of the Board's Fund.
• Grants: From the Central Government.
• Accounts, Audit, and Reports: Detailed provisions for transparency and oversight.
5. Miscellaneous: - Protection of Actions: Immunity for actions taken in good faith under the Act.
• Power to Make Rules and Regulations:
• By the Central Government (with consultation with the Board, if established).
• By the Board (with previous approval of the Central Government).

Legislative History:

The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library Act, 1969

● Act Title - The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library Act, 1969

● Act Number / Year - 43 of 1969

● Act ID (India Code) - 196943

● Presidential Assent Date - December 26, 1969

● Enforcement Date - July 21, 1970

● Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Culture

Precedent & Historical Rationale

● Declaration as an Institution of National Importance - Enacted to declare the historic Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library at Patna, Bihar, an Institution of National Importance under Entry 62 of List I (Union List) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution.

● Preservation of Cultural Heritage & Rare Manuscripts - Formulated to ensure central funding, preservation, maintenance, and administrative governance for the library's irreplaceable collection of rare Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Oriental manuscripts, paintings, and historical documents originally created through the deed of trust executed by Maulvi Khuda Bakhsh Khan in 1891.

Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment

● Formulation - Introduced by the Union Ministry of Education and Youth Services (now Ministry of Culture) to establish an autonomous statutory body—the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library Board—headed ex officio by the Governor of Bihar.

● Parliamentary Passage - Debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Fourth Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) during December 1969.

● Presidential Assent - Received Presidential Assent on December 26, 1969.

● Enforcement - Enforced on July 21, 1970 (vide notification No. G.S.R. 1255(E)).

Source - Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Culture.