The Public Records Act

Short title and commencement

Definitions

Power of the Central Government to coordinate, regulate and supervise operations connected with  administration, management, etc., of public records

Prohibition against taking of public records out of India

Records officer

Responsibilities of records officer

Records officer to take appropriate action in the event of unauthorised removal, destruction, etc.,  of public records in his custody

Destruction or disposal of public records

Penalty for contraventions

Public records bearing security classification

Receipt of records from private sources

Access to public records

Archival Advisory Board

Functions of the Board

Power of the Director General to lay down norms and standards for courses in archival science

Protection of action taken in good faith

Power to make rules

Laying of rules before Parliament

All sections

(1) Save as otherwise provided in any law for the
time being in force, no public record shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of except in such manner
and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.

(2) No record created before the year 1892 shall be destroyed except where in the opinion of the
Director General or, as the case may be, the head of the Archives, it is so defaced or is in such condition
that it cannot be put to any archival use.

LAWGIST

# 8 Destruction or disposal of public records