Context

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to delist 18 centrally protected Monuments because it has assessed that they do not have national importance. 

Delisting of Monuments by ASI

• Large Scale Delisting: This is the first large-scale delisting exercise in decades, reducing ASI’s purview from 3,693 to 3,675 monuments.
• Delisted Monuments: These monuments, including landmarks like the medieval highway milestone Kos Minar No.13 in Haryana, Barakhamba Cemetery in Delhi, and Telia Nala Buddhist ruins in Varanasi, are considered ‘untraceable’ as their precise locations or current conditions are unknown.
• Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958: The decision follows the criteria outlined in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958

What are the Centrally Protected Monuments?

• Definition: Centrally protected monuments are locations designated as such under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological locations and Remains Act of 1958 (AMASR Act).
• Regulation: It governs the preservation of monuments and archaeological sites with national and historical significance that are over 100 years old.

Process of Deleting the Lost/Untraceable Monuments From the Protected List

• Delisting of monuments: Delisting means these monuments will no longer receive conservation, protection, or maintenance from ASI, allowing construction and urbanization in the area.
• Section 35 of the AMASR Act: The deletion necessitates denotification of the stated monument under Section 35 of the AMASR Act, which is a lengthy process.
  • Section 35 allows for the issuance of notifications only for Centrally Protected Monuments that the Union  government determines to be no longer of national interest.
• Recommendations of Parliamentary Committees: The Parliamentary Committee recommended that the untraceable monuments not to  be removed from the list because there would be no reason to find them.
  • As a result, the Committee recommended that the list of Untraceable Monuments be kept as it is , and that the AMASR Act be revised if necessary to include this phrase.