THE ASIATIC SOCIETY ACT, 1984 
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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SECTIONS 

1.  Short title and commencement. 
2.  Declaration of Asiatic Society as an institution of national importance. 
3.  Definitions. 
4.  Grants, loans, etc., by Central Government to Society. 
5.  Audit of accounts of Society. 
6.  Annual report. 
7.  Prior approval of Central Government necessary for certain action by Society. 
8.  Planning Board. 
9.  Committees. 
10.  Review of work done, inspection of assets, etc. 
11.  Society to afford facilities to Committees. 
12.  Power to issue directions to Society. 
13.  Power of Central Government to assume functions of control. 
14.  Act to have overriding effect. 
15.  Power to make rules. 

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THE ASIATIC SOCIETY ACT, 1984 

ACT NO. 5 OF 1984 

[23rd March, 1984.] 

An  Act  to  declare  the  institution  known  as  the  Asiatic  Society  having  at  present  its  registered 
office  in  Calcutta  to  be  an  institution  of  national  importance  and  to  provide  for  certain 
matters connected therewith. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

1. Short title and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Asiatic Society Act, 1984. 
(2)  It  shall  come  into  force  on  such  date1as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the 

Official Gazette, appoint. 

 2.  Declaration  of  Asiatic  Society  as  an  institution  of  national  importance.—Whereas  the  late 
William Jones founded on the 15th day of January, 1784, an institution in Calcutta which is now known 
as  the  Asiatic  Society  and  the  objects  of  which  are  such  as  to  make  the  institution  one  of  national 
importance, it is hereby declared that the said Asiatic Society is an institution of national importance. 

3. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

(a) “memorandum” means the memorandum of association of the Society; 

(b) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 

(c) “regulations” includes any rule or regulation (by whatever name called) which the Society is 
competent  to  make  in  the  exercise  of  the  powers  conferred  on  it  under  the  West  Bengal  Societies 
Registration Act, 1961 (West Bengal Act XXVI,1961), but shall not include any bye-laws or standing 
orders made under the regulations for the conduct of its day-to-day administration ; 

(d) “Society” means the Asiatic Society being a society within the meaning of the West Bengal 
Societies Registration Act, 1961(West Bengal Act XXVI, 1961), and having its registered office in 
Calcutta. 

 4.  Grants,  loans,  etc.,  by  Central  Government  to  Society.—For  the  purpose  of  enabling  the 
Society  to  discharge  efficiently  its  functions,  including  in  particular  those  relating  to  research,  literary, 
library,  scientific  and  museological  activities,  collection  of  manuscripts,  coins  and  art  objects,  and  the 
publication  of  periodicals,  books  and  other  literature,  the  Central  Government  may,  after  due 
appropriation  made  by  Parliament  by  law  in  this  behalf,  pay  to  the  Society  in  each  financial  year  such 
sums of money as that Government considers necessary by way of grants, loans or otherwise. 

 5. Audit of accounts of Society.—(1) The Society shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant 
records and prepare an annual statement of accounts including the balance sheet in such form as may be 
approved by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. 

(2) The accounts of the Society shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and 
any  expenditure  incurred  by  him  in  connection  with  such  audit  shall  be  payable  by  the  Society  to  the 
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. 

(3)  The  Comptroller  and  Auditor-General  of  India  and  any  person  appointed  by  him  in  connection 
with  the  audit  of  the  accounts  of  the  Society  shall  have  the  same  rights,  privileges  and  authority  in 
connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India has in connection with the 
audit  of  the  Government  accounts,  and,  in  particular,  shall  have  the  right  to  demand  the  production  of 
books,  accounts,  connected  vouchers  and  other  documents  and  papers  and  to  inspect  the  office  of  the 
Society. 

1.  25th  June,  1984,  vide  notification  No.  G.S.R.  470(E),  dated  25th  June,  1984,  see  Gazette  of  India,  Extraordinary,  Part  II,        
sec. (i). 

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(4) The accounts of the Society as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any 
person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereof shall be forwarded annually 
to  the  Central  Government  and  that  Government  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  laid  before  each  House  of 
Parliament. 

 6. Annual report.—The Society shall furnish to the Central Government, at such time each year as 
may be directed, its annual report giving full account of its activities, policies and programmes during the 
previous year and that Government shall cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament. 

7. Prior approval of Central Government necessary for certain action by Society.—The Society 

shall not, except with the previous approval of the Central Government,— 

(a) alter, extend or abridge any of the purposes for which it has been established or for which it is 
being used immediately before the commencement of this Act, or amalgamate itself either wholly or 
partially with any other institution or society; or 

(b) alter or amend in any manner the memorandum or regulations; or 

(c)  sell  or  otherwise  dispose  of  any  property  acquired  by  the  Society  with  money  specifically 

provided for such acquisition by the Central Government: 

Provided that no such approval shall be necessary in the case of any such movable property or 
class of movable property as may be specified by the Central Government in this behalf by general or 
special order; or 

(d) be dissolved. 

 8.  Planning  Board.—(1)  For  the  purpose  of  advising  it  with  respect  to  the  planning  and 
implementation  of  the  developmental  programmes  of  the  Society  and  other  matters  concerning  the 
Society,  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  establish  a  board  to  be 
called the Planning Board (Asiatic Society). 

(2)  The  Board  shall  consist  of  a  Chairman  and  such  other  members  as  may  be  appointed  by  the 

Central Government. 

(3) Subject to any rules which the Central Government may make in this behalf, the Board shall have 

the power to regulate its own procedure. 

(4)  The  term  of  office  of,  the  procedure  to  be  followed  in  the  discharge  of  their  functions  by,  the 
manner  of  filling  casual  vacancies  among,  the  allowances,  if  any,  payable  to,  and  other  matters 
concerning, the members of the Board shall be such as may be prescribed. 

9.  Committees.—(1)  The  Central  Government  may,  by  notifications  in  the  Official  Gazette, 
constitute  as  many  committees,  as  and  when  it  considers  it  necessary,  consisting  of  such  number  of 
persons as it thinks fit to appoint thereto and assign to each such committee all or any  of the following 
duties, namely:— 

(a) the  preparation  and  submission  to  the  Central  Government,  as  far  as  possible  before  the 
commencement  of  each  financial  year,  of  statements  showing  programmes  of  work  agreed  to  be 
undertaken by the Society during that year for which the Central Government may provide funds as 
well as general financial estimates in respect of such work; 

(b) the settlement on broad line of the programmes of such work. 

(2) A committee constituted under sub-section (1) shall, in discharging its duties with respect to any 
matter under this section, have due regard to the advice, if any, tendered in respect of such matter under 
section 8 by the Board to the Central Government. 

(3) Where the Society does not agree to undertake any work suggested by any committee referred to 

in sub-section (1), it shall give to the Central Government its reasons for not so agreeing. 

(4) The procedure to be followed by a committee constituted under sub-section (1) in the discharge of 
its functions, the allowances, if any, payable to the members of such committee and other matters relating 
to such committee shall be such as may be prescribed. 

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10.  Review  of  work  done,  inspection  of  assets,  etc.—(1)  the  Central  Government  may,  by 
notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  constitute  a  Committee  consisting  of  such  number  of  persons  as  it 
thinks fit to appoint thereto for the purpose of— 

(a) reviewing the work done by the Society and the progress made by it; 

(b) inspecting its buildings, equipment and other assets; 

(c) evaluating the work done by the Society; and 

(d) advising Government generally on any matter which in the 

opinion of the Central Government is of importance in connection with the work of the Society; 

and the Committee shall submit its report thereon in such manner as the Central Government may direct. 

(2)  The  procedure  to  be  followed  by,  the  allowances,  if  any,  payable  to,  the  members  of  the 

Committee and other matters concerning the Committee shall be such as may be prescribed. 

(3)  The  Committee  shall,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  sub-section  (4)  and  of  any  rules  which  the 

Central Government may make in this behalf, have power to regulate its own procedure. 

(4) Notice shall be given in every case to the Society of the intention to cause a review, inspection or 
evaluation  to  be  made,  and  the  Society  shall  be  entitled  to  appoint  a  representative  who  shall  have  the 
right to be present and be heard at such review, inspection or evaluation. 

(5) The Central Government may address the President of the Society with reference to the result of 
such  review,  inspection  or  evaluation  as  disclosed  in  any  report  of  the  Committee  referred  to  in  sub-
section  (1),  and  the  President  shall  communicate  to  the  Central  Government  the  action,  if  any,  taken 
thereon. 

(6) When the Central Government has in pursuance of sub-section (5), addressed the President of the 
Society in connection with any matter, and the President does not within a reasonable time take action to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Central  Government  in  respect  thereof,  the  Central  Government  may,  after 
considering  any  explanations  furnished  or  representations  made  on  behalf  of  the  Society,  issue  such 
directions as it considers necessary in respect of any of the matters dealt with in the report. 

11. Society to afford facilities to Committees.—The Society shall be bound to afford all necessary 
facilities to the Board constituted under section 8 and to every committee constituted under section 9 or 
section 10 for the purpose of enabling them to carry out their duties. 

12. Power to issue directions to Society.—(1) The Central Government may, if it is satisfied that it 
is  necessary  so  to  do  in  the  public  interest  issue,  for  reasons  to  be  recorded  and  communicated  to  the 
Society, such directions as it thinks to the Society, and such directions may include directions requiring 
the Society— 

(a) to amend the memorandum or to make or amend any regulation within such period as may be 

specified in the directions; 

(b) to give priorities to the work undertaken or to be undertaken by the Society in such manner as 

the Central Government may think fit to specify in this behalf. 

(2) Any directions issued under this section shall have effect, notwithstanding anything contained in 

any law for the time being in force or in the memorandum or regulations of the Society. 

13. Power of Central Government to assume functions of control.—(1) If, in the opinion of the 

Central Government,— 

(i) the Society without just or reasonable cause has made default in giving effect to any direction 

issued under sub-section (6) of section 10 or section 12; or 

(ii) the Council of the Society has exceeded or abused the powers in relation to the Society or any 

part thereof; 

the Central Government may, by written order, direct the Society within a period to be specified in the 
order to show cause to the satisfaction of the Central Government against the making of any appointment 
referred to in sub-section (2). 

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(2) If, within the period fixed by any order issued under sub-section (1), cause is not shown to the 
satisfaction of the Central Government, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official 
Gazette and stating the reasons therefor, appoint one or more persons to take over the management of the 
Society  or  of  any  of  the  activities  of  the  Society  for  such  period  not  exceeding  two  years  as  may  be 
specified in the order. 

(3) During the period specified in the order issued under sub-section (2),— 

(a)  where  the  order  provides  for  any  person  or  persons  taking  over  the  management  of  the 

Society— 

(i)  all  persons  holding  office  as  Members  of  the  Council,  including  the  President,  shall  be 

deemed to have vacated their offices as such; 

(ii) the person or persons appointed under sub-section (2) to take over the management of the 
Society shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the President or Council of the 
Society, whether at a meeting or otherwise, in respect of the Society; 

(b)  where  the  order  provides  for  any  person  or  persons  taking  over  the  management  of  any 
activities of the Society, the person or persons so appointed shall alone be entitled to exercise all the 
powers and perform all the duties of the President or Council in relation to those activities. 

14.  Act  to  have  overriding  effect.—The  provisions  of  this  Act  shall  have  effect  notwithstanding 
anything  inconsistent  therewith  contained  in  the  memorandum  or  regulations  or  the  West  Bengal 
Societies Registration Act, 1961 (West Bengal Act XXVI, 1961) or any other law for the time being in 
force. 

15. Power to make rules.—(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, 

make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. 

(2)  In  particular  and  without  prejudice  to  the  generality  of  the  foregoing  power,  such  rules  may 

provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 

(i)  matters  with  respect  to  the  procedure  to  be  followed  by  the  Board  under  sub-section  (3)  of 

section 8; 

(ii) the term of office of, the procedure to be followed in the discharge of their functions by, the 
manner  of  filling  casual  vacancies  among,  the  allowances,  if  any,  payable  to,  and  other  matters 
concerning, the members of the Board under sub-section (4) of section 8; 

(iii) the procedure to be followed by a committee in the discharge of its functions, the allowances, 
if any, payable to the members of the committee and other matters relating to the committee under 
sub-section (4) of section 9; 

(iv)  the  procedure  to  be  followed  by,  the  allowances,  if  any,  payable  to,  the  members  of  the 

Committee and other matters concerning the Committee under sub-section (2) of section 10; 

(v) any other matter which is required to be or in respect of which rules may be made under this 

Act. 

(3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it 
is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which 
may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the 
session  immediately  following  the  session  or  the  successive  sessions  aforesaid,  both  Houses  agree  in 
making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall 
thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that 
any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done 
under that rule. 

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