AMASRA: 2.31 Section 20H. Salary, allowances and meetings of Authority.

2.31 Salary, allowances and meetings of Authority:

2.31.1 Bare Act Provision:

20H. Salary, allowances and meetings of Authority.―(1) The salaries and allowances payable to the whole-time Chairperson and whole-time members, and the other terms and conditions of their service or fees or allowances payable to the part-time members, of the Authority shall be such as may be prescribed:

Provided that neither the salary and allowances nor the other terms and conditions of service of the whole-time Chairperson and whole-time members shall be varied to their disadvantage after their appointment.

(2) The Authority shall regulate its own procedure for the purposes of holding its meetings (including quorum of such meetings) and granting permissions under this Act.

(3) All the decisions of the Authority shall be published in such manner as it may decide and also on its own website and on the website of the Central Government.

Footnote:

1. Ins. by Act 10 of 2010, (w.e.f. 16-6-1992).

Section 20H of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, in force in Bharat as of July 26, 2025, outlines provisions for the salaries, allowances, meeting procedures, and decision publication of the National Monuments Authority (NMA). This section supports the NMA’s operations by ensuring fair compensation, flexible procedures, and transparency in decision-making.

2.31.2 Salaries and Allowances

As per Section 20H(1) of the AMASR Act, the Central Government will set the salaries, allowances, and service conditions for the full-time Chairperson and members of the NMA, as well as fees for part-time members, through prescribed rules. Once appointed, full-time members are protected from reductions in their salary or worsening of their service conditions.[1] This ensures fair and stable compensation to attract qualified experts to the NMA, supporting their commitment to heritage protection. The proviso safeguards full-time members’ job security, preventing arbitrary changes that could discourage participation.

2.31.3 Meeting Procedures

As per Section 20H(2) of the AMASR Act, the NMA can create its own rules for conducting meetings, e.g., how many members must be present, and handling permissions for activities near protected monuments. This grants the NMA autonomy to design efficient, context-specific procedures, allowing flexibility to address the diverse needs of heritage management while maintaining decision-making independence.

2.31.4 Publication of Decisions

As per Section 20H(3) of the AMASR Act, the NMA must make all its decisions e.g., approving or denying permissions, public in a way it chooses and post them on its website and the Central Government’s website. This promotes transparency and accountability by ensuring public access to the NMA’s decisions, fostering trust and enabling scrutiny of heritage protection processes.

Section 20H of the AMASR Act supports the NMA’s operations by ensuring fair compensation, flexible meeting procedures, and transparent decision-making. However, ambiguities in terms, lack of enforcement, and potential resource constraints could undermine its effectiveness. Strengthening the section with clear guidelines, robust funding, and inclusive publication methods would enhance the NMA’s ability to protect Bharat’s cultural heritage.

Reference:

[1] Inviting Nominations for Appointment of Whole-time Members of the National Monument Authority, Advertisement of Ministry of Culture, 2019.