Section 20. Power of Government to notify areas as protected.

1[20. Power of Government to notify area as protected.––(1) If the Government is of opinion that excavation for archaeological purposes in any area should be restricted or regulated in the interest of archaeological research, the Government may, by notification in the *[Government Gazette] specifying the boundaries of the area, declare it to be a protected area. (2) From the date of such notification all antiquities buried in the protected area shall be the property of Government and shall be deemed to be in the possession of Government, and shall remain the property and in the possession of the Government until ownership thereof is transferred ; but in all other respects the rights of any owner or occupier of and in such area shall not be affected.