How to File RTI with Archaeological Survey of India — Heritage Monuments, Restoration Projects and Conservation Contracts

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the premier organisation in India responsible for the protection, conservation, and maintenance of the country's archaeological and built heritage. Operating under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, ASI manages over 3,690 centrally protected monuments and archaeological sites across the country — including iconic sites such as the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Ajanta Caves, Sun Temple Konark, Hampi, and Rani Ki Vav. ASI also conducts archaeological excavations, issues excavation licences, and enforces the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act) to prevent illegal construction, encroachments, and damage within and around protected areas.

ASI is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. This means that citizens, researchers, heritage activists, property owners near monuments, contractors, and any other person can use the Right to Information Act to obtain official, documented information from ASI — including construction permission records, restoration project and contract details, encroachment notices, excavation licences, site inspection reports, and maintenance expenditure.

What the AMASR Act Means for Construction and RTI

The AMASR Act, as amended in 2010, establishes strict zoning around every ASI-protected monument. A prohibited area extends 100 metres in all directions from the protected monument or site boundary — no construction of any kind is permitted in this zone. Beyond that, a regulated area extends a further 200 metres (i.e., 100 to 300 metres from the monument boundary) — construction here requires the prior permission of the National Monuments Authority (NMA) in consultation with ASI.

These restrictions are enforced through notifications issued for individual monuments, and citizens have a right to know the precise boundaries that apply to any particular site. RTI is a powerful tool in this context:

• If you are a property owner or developer, you can seek the notification defining the prohibited and regulated area boundaries for a specific monument, and the exact conditions applicable to your land.
• If you suspect that a nearby construction has proceeded without a valid permission — or in violation of AMASR Act conditions — you can ask ASI for the permission order (or confirmation that no permission was granted), the conditions imposed, and the status of any enforcement action.
• If ASI has issued an encroachment or demolition notice against a property, the affected party can seek the legal basis, the grounds cited, and the compliance timeline through RTI.

What Information Can You Seek from ASI through RTI?

Construction Permissions and NOCs

Citizens and property owners near ASI-protected monuments can seek complete records of permission applications filed under the AMASR Act, including:

1. Whether a specific construction or development application was filed with ASI, the date it was received, and its current status (approved, rejected, or pending)
2. The conditions attached to any construction permission granted — including permissible height, setback from the protected area boundary, and restrictions on the nature of construction materials or design
3. The order number, date, and the officer who signed the permission or rejection
4. The prohibited and regulated area boundary notifications for a specific monument, including precise coordinates or survey numbers as gazetted

This information is particularly valuable for residents and civic groups who wish to verify whether new construction in the vicinity of a protected monument has been legitimately permitted, and whether it complies with the conditions attached to any such permission.

Restoration, Conservation, and Maintenance Works

ASI undertakes extensive conservation and restoration work at its protected monuments, funded through public expenditure. Through RTI, citizens can obtain:

1. The name and address of the contractor awarded a conservation or restoration project, the contract value, and the actual expenditure incurred
2. The scheduled and actual start and completion dates for a project, and whether time extensions have been granted
3. Site inspection reports, field notes, and progress reports prepared by ASI engineers and archaeologists during a conservation project
4. Annual maintenance expenditure on a specific monument — broken down by type of work (structural stabilisation, lime mortar repair, drainage, horticulture, etc.) and by whether the work was executed departmentally or through contractors
5. Tender documents, Notice Inviting Tender, and bill of quantities for conservation works, to the extent not exempted under Section 8 of the RTI Act

This information helps hold ASI and its contractors accountable for the quality and timely completion of conservation work, and enables heritage researchers and watchdog organisations to track public spending at archaeological sites.

Encroachment Notices and Enforcement Actions

ASI has statutory authority to take action against encroachments on or near protected monuments. Through RTI you can ask for:

1. The number and details of encroachment notices issued in the vicinity of a specific monument during a defined period
2. The legal provision under which each notice was issued, the property identified, and the compliance timeline specified
3. Whether compliance has been achieved — i.e., whether the encroachment has been removed — and if not, the status of further enforcement proceedings
4. The authority (ASI, district administration, or court) before which any dispute arising from an encroachment notice is pending

Excavation Licences and Exploration Permissions

All excavations and explorations at archaeological sites require a licence from ASI under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959. Through RTI you can obtain:

1. Details of licences issued for excavation or exploration at a specific site, including the name of the licensee, the duration, the area covered, and the conditions attached
2. Whether any licence has been extended or revoked, and the grounds for such extension or revocation
3. Reports or findings submitted by licensees to ASI pursuant to an excavation licence, to the extent they are on official record and not exempt under Section 8

Where to File

ASI is accessible through the Central RTI portal. Follow these steps:

1. Visit rtionline.gov.in and click Submit Request
2. Select the ministry: Ministry of Culture
3. Select the public authority: Archaeological Survey of India
4. Specify in your application whether your query relates to a specific ASI Circle (e.g., Agra Circle, Delhi Circle, Bhubaneswar Circle) or to the headquarters office — this helps the CPIO route your application to the correct officer promptly
5. Draft your application with full details: monument name, ASI Circle, project or permit reference number, and precise, specific questions — vague or broad questions increase the chance of a partial response
6. Pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are fully exempt from the fee and should mention their BPL card details in the application
7. Submit and note your registration number for tracking

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If the CPIO does not respond within 30 days, provides an incomplete response, or denies information, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the relevant ASI Circle or at ASI Headquarters, as applicable. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response period. ASI is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Culture — second appeal in all cases goes to the CIC, not any State Information Commission.

The CIC can direct disclosure of information, award compensation to the complainant, and impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005 if information was withheld without reasonable cause or the CPIO failed to respond within the prescribed period.