The Indian Treasure-trove Act, 1878
PREAMBLE

SECTIONS

1. Short title.
Extent.


# THE INDIAN TREASURE-TROVE ACT, 1878

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# ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
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PRELIMINARY


2. [Repealed.].
3. Interpretation-clause.
“Treasure.”

“Collector.”

“Owner.”

PROCEDURE ON FINDING TREASURE

4. Notice by finder of treasure.

5. Notification requiring claimants to appear.

6. Forfeiture of right on failure to appear.

7. Matters to be enquired into and determined by the Collector.

8. Time to be allowed for suit by person claiming the treasure.

9. When treasure may be declared ownerless.

Appeal against such declaration.

10. Proceedings subsequent to declaration.

11. When no other person claims as owner of place, treasure to be given to finder.

12. When only one such person claims and his claim is not disputed, treasure to be divided, and

shares to be delivered to parties.

13. In case of dispute as to ownership of place, proceedings to be stayed.

14. Settlement of such dispute.

15. and division thereupon.

16. Power to acquire the treasure on behalf of Government.

17. Decision of Collector final, and no suit to lie against him for acts done bona fide.

18. Collector to exercise powers of Civil Court.

19. Power to make rules.

PENALTIES

20. Penalty on finder failing to give notice, etc.

21. Penalty on owner abetting offence under section 20.

_SCHEDULE.— [Repealed.]._

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# THE INDIAN TREASURE-TROVE ACT, 1878

ACT NO. 6 OF 1878[1]

An Act to amend the law relating to Treasure-trove.



[13th February, 1878.]


**Preamble.—Whereas it is expedient to amend the law relating to treasure-trove; It is hereby enacted**

as follows:—

PRELIMINARY

**1. Short title.—This** Act may be called the Indian Treasure-trove Act, 1878.

**Extent.—It extends to the whole of India except [2][the territories which, immediately before the 1st**

November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States].

3* ***** ***** ***** *****

**STATE AMENDMENT**

**Maharashtra**

**In the principal Act,—In section 1,—**

(i) to the second paragraph the following proviso shall be added, namely:—

“Provided that on the commencement of the Indian Treasure-trove (Extension to Hyderabad and

Saurashtra area of Bombay State) Act, 1957 (Bom. XXXIII of 1958), this Act shall also extend to and
be in force in, the Hyderabad and Saurashtra area of the State of Bombay.”;

(ii) against the proviso so inserted the marginal note “commencement in certain areas” shall be

inserted;

[Vide Bombay Act XXXIII of 1958, s. 3]

**2. [Repeal of enactments.] Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1891 (12 of 1891), s. 2 and the**

_First Schedule._

1. This Act has been declared to be in force in—

Sonthal Parganas by the Sonthal Parganas Settlement Regulation (Reg. 3 of 1872), s. 3;
Khondmals District by the Khondmals Laws Regulation, 1936 (Reg. 4 of 1936), s. 3 and Sch.; and
Angul District by the Angul Laws Regulation, 1936 (Reg. 5 of 1936), s. 3 and Sch.
It has also been declared, by notification under s. 3(a) of the Scheduled Districts Act, 1874 (14 of 1874), to be in

force in the Scheduled Districts of Hazaribagh, Lohardaga and Manbhum, and Pargana Dhalbhum and the Kolhan in
the District of Singbhum—see Gazette of India, 1881, Pt. I, p. 504 (The District of Lohardaga included at that time
the present District of Palamau, which was separated in 1894; Lohardaga is now called the Ranchi District; _see_
Calcutta Gazette, 1899, Pt. I. P. 44.)

It has been extended to and brought into force in Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and Sch. I

(w.e.f. 1-7-1965), to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 11 of 1963, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965) and Sch. and to the whole of the
Union Territory of Lakshadweep by Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and Sch. with modification (w.e.f. 1-10-1967).

The Act came into force in Pondicherry vide Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and Sch. I.
The Act has been repealed in its application to Bellary District by Mysore Act 14 of 1955.
Amended in—

Bihar by Bihar Act 22 of 1947.
Madras by Madras Act 36 of 1949.
Punjab by Punjab Act 24 of 1960.
Andhra Pradesh by Andhra Pradesh Act 15 of 1972.

2. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) Order, 1956, for “Part B States”.
3. The words “And it shall come into force at once.” rep. by Act 10 of 1914, s. 3 and II Schedule.

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**STATE AMENDMENT**

**3. Interpretation-clause.—In** this Act—

**Treasure.—“treasure” means anything of any value hidden in the soil, or in anything affixed**

thereto;

**“Collector.”—“Collector” means (1) any Revenue officer in independent charge of a**

district, and (2) any officer appointed by the State Government to perform the functions
of a Collector under this Act.

**“Owner.”—When** any person is entitled, under any reservation in an instrument of

transfer of any land or thing affixed thereto, to treasure in such land or thing, he shall, for the
purposes of this Act, be deemed to be the owner of such land or thing.

PROCEDURE ON FINDING TREASURE

**4. Notice by finder of treasure.—Whenever** any treasure exceeding in amount or value ten rupees is

found, the finder shall, as soon as practicable, give to the Collector notice in writing—

(a) of the nature and amount or approximate value of such treasure;

(b) of the place in which it was found;

(c) of the date of the finding;

and either deposit the treasure in the nearest Government treasury, or give the Collector such
security as the Collector thinks fit, to produce the treasure at such time and place as he may
from time to time require.

**5. Notification requiring claimants to appear.—On receiving a notice under section 4, the**

Collector shall, after making such enquiry (if any) as he thinks fit, take the following steps
(namely):—

(a) he shall publish a notification in such manner as the State Government from time to

time prescribes in this behalf, to the effect that, on a certain date _(mentioning it)_ certain
treasure _(mentioning its nature, amount and approximate value)_ was found in a certain place
_(mentioning it); and requiring all persons claiming the treasure, or any part thereof, to appear_
personally or by agent before the Collector on a day and at a place therein mentioned, such
day not being earlier than four months, or later than six months, after the date of the
publication of such notification;

(b) when the place in which the treasure appears to the Collector to have been found was at

the date of the finding in the possession of some person other than the finder, the Collector
shall also serve on such person a special notice in writing to the same effect.

**6. Forfeiture of right on failure to appear.—Any** person having any right to such treasure

or any part thereof, as owner of the place in which it was found or otherwise, and not appearing
as required by the notification issued under section 5, shall forfeit such right.

**7. Matters to be enquired into and determined by the Collector.—On the day notified under**

section 5, the Collector shall cause the treasure to be produced before him, and shall enquire as to
and determine—

(a) the person by whom, the place in which, and the circumstances under which, such treasure

was found; and

(b) as far as is possible the person by whom, and the circumstances under which, such treasure

was hidden.
**8. Time to be allowed for suit by person claiming the treasure.—If, upon an enquiry made**

under section 7, the Collector sees reason to believe that the treasure was hidden within one hundred
years before the date of the finding, by a person appearing as required by the said notification and
claiming such treasure, or by some other person under whom such person claims, the Collector shall

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make an order adjourning the hearing of the case for such period as he deems sufficient, to allow of a
suit being instituted in the Civil Court by the claimant, to establish his right.

**9. When treasure may be declared ownerless.—If** upon such enquiry the Collector sees no reason

to believe that the treasure was so hidden; or

if, where a period is fixed under section 8, no suit is instituted as aforesaid within such period to the

knowledge of the Collector; or

if such suit is instituted within such period, and the plaintiff's claim is finally rejected;

the Collector may declare the treasure to be ownerless.

**Appeal against such declaration.—Any** person aggrieved by a declaration made under this

section may appeal against the same within two months from the date thereof to the Chief
Controlling Revenue authority.[1]

Subject to such appeal, every such declaration shall be final and conclusive.

**10. Proceedings subsequent to declaration.—When a declaration has been made in respect**

of any treasure under section 9, such treasure shall, in accordance with the provisions hereinafter
contained, either be delivered to the finder thereof, or be divided between him and the owner of
the place in which it has been found in manner hereinafter provided.

**11. When no other person claims as owner of place, treasure to be given to finder.—When**

a declaration has been made in respect of any treasure as aforesaid, and no person other than the
finder of such treasure has appeared as required by the notification published under section 5 and
claimed a share of the treasure as owner of the place in which it has been found, the Collector shall
deliver such treasure to the finder thereof.

**12. When only one such person claims and his claim is not disputed, treasure to be divided,**

**and shares to be delivered to parties.—When a declaration has been made as aforesaid in respect of**
any treasure, and only one person other than the finder of such treasure has so appeared and claimed,
and the claim of such person is not disputed by the finder, the Collector shall proceed to divide the
treasure between the finder and the person so claiming according to the following rule (namely):—

If the finder and the person so claiming have not entered into any agreement then in force

as to the disposal of the treasure, three-fourths of the treasure shall be allotted to such finder
and the residue to such person. If such finder and such person have entered into any such
agreement, the treasure shall be disposed of in accordance therewith:

Provided that the Collector may in any case, if he thinks fit, instead of dividing any treasure as

directed by this section,—

(a) allot to either party the whole or more than his share of such treasure, on such party

paying to the Collector for the other party such sum of money as the Collector may fix as the
equivalent of the share of such other party, or of the excess so allotted, as the case may be; or

(b) sell such treasure or any portion thereof by public auction and divide the sale-proceeds

between the parties according to the rule hereinbefore prescribed:

Provided also, that when the Collector has by his declaration under section 9 rejected any

claim made under this Act by any person other than the said finder or person claiming as owner
of the place in which the treasure was found, such division shall not be made until after the
expiration of two months without an appeal having been presented under section 9 by the person
whose claim has been so rejected, or, when an appeal has been so presented, after such appeal
has been dismissed.

1. For definition of Chief Controlling Revenue authority, see the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), s. 3(10).

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When the Collector has made a division under this section, he shall deliver to the parties the

portions of such treasure, or the money in lieu thereof, to which they are respectively entitled
under such division.

**13. In case of dispute as to ownership of place, proceedings to be stayed.—When a**

declaration has been made as aforesaid in respect of any treasure, and two or more persons have
appeared as aforesaid and each of them claimed as owner of the place where such treasure was found,
or the right of any person who has so appeared and claimed is disputed by the finder of such treasure,
the Collector shall retain such treasure and shall make an order staying his proceedings with a view
to the matter being enquired into and determined by a Civil Court.

**14. Settlement of such dispute.—Any person who has so appeared and claimed may, within one**

month from the date of such order, institute a suit in the Civil Court to obtain a decree declaring his right;
and in every such suit the finder of the treasure and all persons disputing such claim before the Collector
shall be made defendants.

**15. And division thereupon.—If any such suit is instituted and the plaintiff's claim is finally**

established therein, the Collector shall, subject to the provisions of section 12, divide the treasure between
him and the finder.

If no such suit is instituted as aforesaid, or if the claims of the plaintiffs in all such suits are finally

rejected, the Collector shall deliver the treasure to the finder.

**16. Power to acquire the treasure on behalf of Government.—The Collector may, at any time after**

making a declaration under section 9, and before delivering or dividing the treasure as hereinbefore
provided, declare by writing under his hand his intention to acquire on behalf of the Government the
treasure, or any specified portion thereof, by payment to the persons entitled thereto of a sum equal to the
value of the materials of such treasure or portion, together with one-fifth of such value, and may place
such sum in deposit in his treasury to the credit of such persons; and thereupon such treasure or portion
shall be deemed to be the property of Government, and the money so deposited shall be dealt with, as far
as is may be, as if it were such treasure or portion.

**17. Decision of Collector final, and no suit to lie against him for acts done** **_bona fide.—No_**

decision passed or act done by the Collector under this Act shall be called in question by any Civil Court,
and no suit or other proceeding shall lie against him for anything done in good faith in exercise of the
powers hereby conferred.

**18. Collector to exercise powers of Civil Court.—A Collector making any enquiry under this Act**

may exercise any power conferred by the Code of Civil Procedure[1] (14 of 1882) on a Civil Court for the
trial of suits.

**19.** **Power to make rules.—[2][The State Government may, from time to time, make** rules consistent

with this Act, to regulate proceedings hereunder.

Such rules shall, on being published in the Official Gazette, have the force of law.]

3[(2) Every rule made by the State Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may

be after it is made, before the State Legislature.]

PENALTIES

**20. Penalty on finder failing to give notice, etc.—If the** finder of any treasure fails to give the

notice, or does not either make the deposit or give the security, required by section 4, or alters or
attempts to alter such treasure so as to conceal its identity, the share of such treasure, or the money
in lieu thereof to which he would otherwise be entitled, shall vest in Government,

and he shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may

extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

1. See now the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 2005, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 11-01-2005)
3. Ins. by ibid., s. 2 and the Schedule. (w.e.f. 11-01-2005)

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**21. Penalty on owner abetting offence under section 20.—If the owner of the place in which any**

treasure is found abets, within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), any offence under
section 20, the share of such treasure, or the money in lieu thereof to which he would otherwise be
entitled, shall vest in Government,

and he shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to

six months, or with fine, or with both.
**Maharashtra**

after section 21, the following section be inserted, namely:—

“22. Repeal and savings.—The Hyderabad Treasure-Trove Act, 1322F (Hyd. III of 1322F ), and

the Indian Treasure-trove Act, 1878, as modified and applied by the State of Saurashtra (Application
of Central and Bombay Acts) Ordinance, 1948 (San. Ord. XXV of 1948), are hereby repealed:

Provided that, notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or action taken (including any notice

or security given, any forfeiture, determination, declaration, delivery, division, acquisition or order
made, all rights, obligations and liabilities acquired, accrued or incurred, penalties imposed, and all
proceedings and appeals pending before the Collector, Chief Controlling Revenue Authority,
Talukdar, Subedar, Board of Revenue or other authority, and all powers conferred therefor) by or
under the provisions of any law so repealed shall be deemed to be done, taken given, made, acquired,
accrued, incurred, imposed, pending or conferred, under the provisions of this Act, as if this Act had
then been in force; and accordingly all such proceedings and appeals pending before any such
authority as aforesaid shall stand transferred, where necessary, to the corresponding authority under
this Act; and if no such authority exists or if there be a doubt as to the corresponding authority, to
such authority as the State Government may designate, and shall be continued and disposed of before
such authority in accordance with the provisions of this Act,”.

[Vide Bombay Act XXXIII of 1958, s. 3].

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_SCHEDULE.—Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1891 (12 of 1891), s. 2 and I Schedule._

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