PUNJAB SPECIAL PREMISES (PRESERVATION), ORDINANCE, 1985

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THE PUNJAB SPECIAL PREMISES (PRESERVATION), 
ORDINANCE, 1985  
(XXXIV of 1985) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title and commencement 
2. Definition 
3. Constitution of Committees 
4. Ordinance to override other laws 
5. Prohibition of destruction etc. of Special Premises 
6. Restriction on sanctioning of plan 
7. Prohibition of destruction etc. of Special Premises 
8. Direction for restoration of original position 
9. Direction to the owner to take measures for preservation of Special 
Premises 
10. Compulsory acquisition of Special Premises 
11. Execution of development schemes and new constructions in proximity 
to Special Premises 
12. Prohibition of bill posting, neon signs, other kinds of advertisements, 
etc 
13. Voluntary contributions 
14. Penalty 
15. Jurisdiction to try Offences 
16. Rules 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB SPECIAL PREMISES (PRESERVATION) ORDINANCE, 1985  
(XXXIV of 1985) 
[27th February, 1985] 
An 
Ordinance 
to provide for the preservation of certain premises in the Punjab. 
Preamble.– WHEREAS it is expedient to preserve certain premises of historical, 
cultural and architectural value in the Punjab and to control and regulate alterations 
therein and demolition and re-erection thereof and for matters ancillary thereto; 
 NOW, THEREFORE , in pursuance of the Proclamation of the fifth day of July, 
1977, (CMLA Order No. 1 of 1977) and the Provisional Constitution Order, 1981 
(CMLA Order No. 1 of 1981) the Governor of the Punjab is pleased to make and 
promulgate the following Ordinance:– 
1. Short title and commencement .– (1) This Ordinance may be called the 
Punjab Special Premises (Preservation) Ordinance, 1985; 
 (2) It shall extend to the whole of the Punjab; 
 (3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definition.– In this Ordinance unless the sub ject or context otherwise 
requires– 
(a) “Special Premises” means any premises of historical, cultural or 
architectural value declared as such by the Government by notification 
and includes the land externally appurtenant thereto and the outer 
walls thereof; 
(b) “Committee” means a Committee constituted under section 3(1) of this 
Ordinance. 
3. Constitution of Committees .– (1) The Government may by notification 
appoint one or more Committees for the purposes of this Ordinance which shall 
perform such functions as the Government may determine. 
 (2) The Government or a Committee may appoint a Committee of Experts 
to advise the Government or a Committee with regard to matters relating to this 
Ordinance. 
4. Ordinance to override other laws .– The provisions of this  Ordinance shall 
have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for 
the time being in force. 
                                                                 
1This Ordinance w as promulgated by the Governor of the Punjab on 25th February, 1985; and, published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary) dated 27th February, 1985, pages 753-T to 753-W. 
5. Prohibition of destruction etc. of Special Premises .– No alteration in or 
renovation, demolition or re -erection of such portion  of a Special Premises as is 
visible from outside, or any part of such portion, shall be effected without the prior 
permission in writing of the Government or a Committee. 
6. Restriction on sanctioning of plan .– No authority or local body shall 
approve any plan in relation to a Special Premises without the prior permission of the 
Government or a Committee and any such plan sanctioned before the coming into 
force of this Ordinance shall be of no effect unless approved by the Government or a 
Committee. 
7. Prohibition of destruction etc. of Special Premises .– No person shall, 
except for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance destroy, break, damage, 
injure, deface or mutilate or scribble, write or engrave any inscription or sign on , such 
portion of a Special Building as is mentioned in section 5. 
8. Direction for restoration of original position .– (1) If such work as is 
mentioned in section 5 has been carried out in relation to a Special Premises before 
the coming into force of this Ordinance or in contraven tion of section s 5,7 or 8 the 
Government or a Committee may by order direct the owner thereof to restore it to its 
original position within such time as may be specified in the order. 
 (2) If the owner fails to comply with the order the Government or a 
Committee may take all necessary measures to give effect to it and the expenses 
incurred for the purpose shall be recoverable from the owner as arrears of land 
revenue. 
9. Direction to the owner to take measures for preservation of Special 
Premises.– (1) Where the Government or a Committee considers that any Special 
Premises is not being preserved or conserved properly by its owner, the Government 
or a Committee may, by order in writing, direct the owner to take such measures for 
its proper preservation and co nservation, and within such time and on such terms 
and conditions as may be specified in the order. 
 (2) If the owner fails to take the measures specified in the order referred to 
in sub -section (1), the Government or a Committee may take all such measures  in 
respect of the Special Premises and the expenses incurred for the purpose shall be 
recoverable from the owner as arrears of land revenue unless the Government directs 
otherwise. 
10. Compulsory acquisition of Special Premises .– If the Government 
apprehends that a Special Premises is in danger of being destroyed, injured or 
allowed to fall into decay, it may, acquire it or a part thereof under the Land 
Acquisition Act, 1894 (1 of 1894), as for a public purpose. 
11. Execution of development schemes and new  constructions in proximity 
to Special Premises .– No development plan or scheme or new construction on, or 
within a distance of two hundred feet of , a Special Premises shall be undertaken or 
executed except with the approval of the Government or a Committee. 
12. Prohibition of bill posting, neon signs, other kinds of advertisements, 
etc.– No person shall put any neon signs or other kinds of advertisement, including 
hoardings, bill postings, commercial signs, poles or pylons , electricity or telephone 
cables and television aerials, on or near any Special Premises without the prior 
permission in writing of the Government or a Committee. 
13. Voluntary contributions .– The Government may receive voluntary 
contributions and donations for the acquisition, preservati on or restoration of Special 
Premises and may make suitable arrangements for the management and application 
of the money so received: 
 Provided that a contribution or donation made for any specified purpose shall 
not be applied to any purpose other than that for which it has been made. 
14. Penalty.– (1) Whoever contravenes the provisions of this Ordinance or the 
rules shall be liable to imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine or 
with both. 
 (2) The court trying an offence under sub -section (1 ) may direct that the 
whole or any part of the fine recovered shall be applied for defraying the expenses of 
restoring the Special Premises to the condition in which it was before the commission 
of an offence relating thereto. 
15. Jurisdiction to try Offences.– No court shall take cognizance of an offence 
punishable under this Ordinance except upon a complaint in writing made by an 
officer generally or specially empowered in this behalf by the Government and no 
court inferior to that of a magistrate of the first class shall try any such offence. 
16. Rules.– The Government may frame rules to carry out the purposes of this 
Ordinance.