Asiatic Society Act, 1984
No: 5 Dated: Mar, 23 1984
THE ASIATIC SOCIETY ACT, 1984
ACT NO. 5 OF 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 25-6-1984, Gazette of India, 1984 Extraordinary, Part II, Section (i) such date as 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, but shall not include any bye-laws or standing orders made under the regulations for the conduct of its day-to-day administration (West Bengal Act XXVI, 1961);
(d) 'Society" means the Asiatic Society being a society within the meaning of the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961, and having its registered office in Calcutta (West Bengal Act XXVI, 1961).
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 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.
(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.