Section 18: Provisions of sections 14, 16 and 17 not to apply in certain cases

Nothing in section 14 or section 16 or section 17 shall apply to any antiquity kept—

(i) in a museum; or

(ii) in an office; or

(iii) in an archive; or

(iv) in an educational or cultural institution,

owned, controlled or managed by the Government [or by any local authority or by any such body as the Central Government may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, approve for the purpose of this section by general or special order.]

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the section 18

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