Archaeological Body Shoots Notice After 'Alteration' To K'taka Temple Pillar During CM Siddaramaiah's Visit

The Archaeological Survey of India mentioned in detail the provision of different actions that violate the AMASR Act and provides for a fine up tp Rs 1 lakh.

The Archaeological Survey of India (AS) has issued a notice to the Karnataka Endowments department after the centrally protected Hampi's Virupakseshwara Temple pillar was allegedly nailed to change the movement of devotees during the CM Siddaramaiah's visit to the temple last week. The letter, signed by the Conservation Assistant, states that Sri. Virupaksh Temple and Complex is a centrally protected monument maintained by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Archaeological Survey of India, Hampi Circle through Hampi Sub Circle, Kamalapur.

"This office has noticed that, you have closed the actual Northern exit of the Viurpaksha Temple Garbhagruha by barricading at the steps and a separate way was done for the devotees as such your office has not taken any permission to close the exit and also your office has fixed the M.S hollow pipes in between pillars by making holes and inserting the iron piece in the decorative pillars which is the clear violation of the section 30 of AMASR Act (Amendment and Validation Act) 2010," the letter read.

The ASI said the AMASR Act under section 30 states that if someone destroys, removes, inquires, alters, defaces, imperils, or misuse a protected monument shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to One lakh rupees.

"Whoever, being the owner or occupier of a protected monument, contravenes an order made under subsection (1) of section 9 or under sub-section (1) of section 10, or (iii) removes from a protected monument any sculpture, carving, image, bas-relief,
inscription, or other like object, or (iv) does any act in contravention of sub-section (1) of 8 section 19, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to One lakh rupees, or with both," it said.

"(2) Any person who moves any antiquity in contravention of a notification issued under sub-section (1) of section 25 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to One lakh rupees; and the court conviction a person of any such contravention may by order direct such person to restore the antiquity to the place from which it was moved," the ASI mentioned in the letter.