The KARNATAKA STATE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, 2010

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 9 OF  2011 
THE KARNATAKA STATE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, 2010 
Arrangement of Sections 
Statement of Objects and Reasons: 
Sections: 
1. Short title and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Power of the State Government to co-ordinate, regulate and supervise operations connected with 
administration, management etc., of public records 
4. Prohibition against taking of public records out of the State 
5. Records Officer 
6. Responsibilities of Records Officer 
7. Records Officer to take appropriate action in the event of unauthorized removal, destruction etc., of 
Public Records in his custody 
8. Destruction or disposal of public records 
9. Penalty for contraventions 
10. Public records bearing security classification 
11. Receipt of records from private sources 
12. Access to Public Records 
13. Archival Advisory Board 
14. Functions of the Board 
15. Power of the Director to lay down norms and standards for courses in archival science 
16. Protection of action taken in good faith 
17. Power to make rules 
18. Power to remove difficulty 
 
 
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS 
Amending Act 9 of 2011.-  It is considered necessary to enact the Karnataka Public Records 
Act, providing a provision to;- 
(a) implement the suggestions of the Indian Historical Records Commission to prepare a 
legislation regarding the maintenance of public records on par with the public records Act of the 
Central Government within the prescribed time and implement the same; 
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(b) ensure that proper maintenance and preservation of the Government records in the State 
of Karnataka which will be useful in the day to day administration and to the persons conducting 
research; 
(c) ensure proper procurement, maintenance, administration and preservation of records of 
District administration, Public undertakings, Cor porations or Boards, Commissions or Committees 
and also to receive from private sources records of historical and national importance; 
(d) constitute State Archival Advisory Board to advice State Government on matter relating to 
the maintenance and conservation of public records and other matters connected therewith or 
incidental thereto. 
Hence, the Bill. 
[L.A. Bill No. 6 of 2010, File No.Samvyashae 48 Shasana 2009] 
[Entry 12 of List II and entry 12 of list III of the Seventh schedule to the constitution of India.]  
_ _ _ 
 
 
KARNATAKA ACT NO. 9 OF  2011 
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the ninth day of February  2011) 
THE KARNATAKA STATE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, 2010 
 (Received the assent of the Governor  on the fourth day of February, 2011) 
 An Act to regulate the management, administration and preservation of public records of the State 
Government, State Public Sector Undertakings, Statutory bodies and corporations, commissions and 
committees constituted by the State Government and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. 
 Be it enacted by the Karnataka  State Legislature in the Sixty first year of the Republic of India as 
follows:- 
 1. Short title and Commencement.- (1) This Act may be called the Karnataka  State Public Records 
Act, 2010. 
 (2) It shall come into force on such date as the  St ate Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette, appoint. 
1. The provisions of this Act came into force w. e.f. 01.04.2011 by Notification No. Ka Sam Va Pra  4 Ra 
Pa Si 2008, dated: 09.02.2011. 
2. The Notification No. Ka Sam Va Pra  4 Ra  Pa Si 2008 dated 03.10.2011 has been cancelled w.e.f. 
09.02.2011. 
3. The provisions of this Act came into force w. e.f. 22.11.2011 by Notification No. Ka Sam Va Pra  4 Ra 
Pa Si 2008, dated: 22.11.2011. 
    (See the text if the Notification at the end of the Act) 
 2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-  
(a) “Board” means the State Archival Advisory Board constituted under sub-section (1) of section 13; 
(b) “Director” means the Director of Archives appointed by the State Gove rnment and includes any 
officer authorized by that Government to perform the duties of the Director; 
(c) “Head of the Archives” means a person holding the charge of the Archives of the State; 
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(d) “Public records” includes,- 
(i) any document, manuscript and file; 
(ii) any microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copy of a  document; 
(iii) any reproduction of image or images embodi ed in such microfilm, whether enlarged or 
not; and 
(iv) any other material produced by a comput er or by any other device of any records 
creating agency. 
(e) ‘records creating agency’ includes,- 
(i) in relation to the State Government, any Ministry, Department or office of the State 
Government; 
(ii) in relation to any statutory body or cor poration wholly or substantially controlled or 
financed by the State Government or any commission or any committee constituted by 
the State Government, the offices of t he said body, corporation, commission or 
committee; 
(f) “Records Officer” means the officer nominated by the records creating agency under sub-section 
(1) of section 5; 
(g) “State” means the State of Karnataka. 
 3. Power of the State Government to co-ordinate, regulate and supervise operations 
connected with administration, management etc., of public records.- (1) The State Government shall have 
the power to co-ordinate, regulate and supervise the operations connected with the administration, 
management, preservation, selection, disposal and destroying of public records under this Act. 
 (2) The State Government in relation to the public  records of the records creating agencies may, by 
order, authorize the Director of Archives subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order, to carry out 
all or any of the following functions, namely:- 
 (a) supervision, management and control of the Archives; 
 (b) acceptance for deposit of public records of  permanent nature after such period as may be 
prescribed; 
 (c) custody, use and withdrawal of public records; 
 (d) arrangement, preservation and exhibition of public records; 
 (e) preparation of inventories, indices, catal ogues and other reference media of public records; 
 (f) analyzing, developing, promoting and co-ordinating the standards, procedures and the 
techniques for improvement of the records management system; 
 (g) ensuring the maintenance, arrangement and securi ty of public records in the Archives and in 
the office of the records creating  agency; 
(h)   promoting utilization of available spac e and maintenance of equipments for preserving public 
records; 
(i) tendering advice to Records creating Agencies on the compilation, classification and disposal 
of records and application of standards, procedures and techniques of records management; 
(j)  survey and inspection of public records; 
(k)  organizing training programmes in various disciplines of Archives administration and records 
management; 
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(l)  accepting records from any private source; 
(m)  regulating access to public records; 
(n)  receiving records from defunct bodies and making arrangement for securing public records in 
the event of national/State emergency; 
(o)  receiving reports on records management and di sposal practices from the records officer; 
(p)  providing authenticated copies of, or extracts from public records; 
(q)  destroying or disposal of public records 
(r)  obtaining on lease or purchasing or accepti ng as gift any document of historical, State or 
national importance; 
 4. Prohibition against taking of public records out of the State.- No person shall take or cause to 
be taken out of the State any public records without the prior approval of the State Government. 
 5. Records Officer.- (1) Every Records creating agency shall nominate one of its officers as Records 
Officer to discharge the functions under this Act. 
 (2) Every  Records Creating Agency may set up such number of record rooms in such places as it 
deems fit and shall place each record room under the charge of a Records Officer. 
 6. Responsibilities of Records Officer.- (1) The records officer shall be responsible for,- 
 (a)  proper arrangement, maintenance and preser vation of  public records under his charge; 
 (b)  periodical review of all public records and weeding out public records of ephemeral value; 
 (c)  appraisal of public records which are more t han twenty five years old in  consultation with the 
State Archives with a view to retaining public records of permanent value; 
 (d)  destruction of public records in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be 
prescribed under sub-section (1) of section 8; 
 (e)  compilation of a schedule of  retention for pub lic records in consultation with State Archives; 
 (f)  periodical review for downgrading of classified public records in such manner as may be 
prescribed; 
 (g)  adoption of such standards, procedures and techniques as may be recommended from time to 
time by the State Archives for improvement of record management system and maintenance of 
securing of public records. 
 (h)  compilation of annual indices of public records. 
(i)  compilation of organizational history and annual supplement thereto; 
 (j)  assisting the State Archiv es in public records management  
 (k)  submission of annual reports to the Dire ctor in such manner as may be prescribed; 
 (l)  transferring of records of any defunct body  to the State  Archives for preservation. 
(2) The records officer shall act under the dire ction of the Director while discharging the 
responsibilities specified in sub-section (1). 
7. Records Officer to take appropriate action in the event of unauthorized removal, destruction 
etc., of Public Records in his custody.- (1)The Records Officer shall, in the event of any unauthorized 
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removal, destruction, defacement or alteration of any public records under his charge, forthwith take appropriate 
action for the recovery or restoration of such public records. 
(2) The Records Officer shall submit a report in writing to the Director without any delay on any 
information of unauthorized removal, destruction, defac ement or alteration of any public records under his 
charge and the action initiated by him and shall take  action as he may deem necessary subject to the 
directions, if any given by the Director. 
(3) The Records Officer may seek assistance from any Government officer or any other person for 
the purpose of recovery or restoration of public records and such officer or person shall render all assistance to 
the records officer. 
8. Destruction or disposal of public records.- (1) No public record shall be destroyed or otherwise 
disposed of except in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed. 
(2) No records, which is more than hundred years old shall be destroyed except where in the opinion 
of the Director, it is so defaced or is in such condition that it cannot be put to any archival use. 
9. Penalty for contraventions.- Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of section 4 or section 8 
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which ma y extend to five years or with fine which may extend 
to twentyfive thousand rupees or with both. 
10. Public records bearing security classification.- No public  records bearing security 
classification shall be transferred to the State Archives. 
11. Receipt of records from private sources.- (1) The State Archives may accept any record of 
historical or national importance from any private source by way of gift, purchase or otherwise. 
(2) The State Archives may in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, 
make any record referred to in sub-section (1) available to any bona-fide research scholar. 
12. Access to Public Records.-  (1) All unclassified public records as are more than thirty years old 
and are transferred to the State Archives may be subjec t to such exceptions and restrictions as may be 
prescribed made available to any bona-fide research scholar. 
Explanation:- For the purposes of this sub-section, the period of thirty years shall be reckoned from 
the year of the opening of the public record. 
(2) Any records creating agency may grant permission to any person to access to any public record in 
its custody in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed. 
13. Archival Advisory Board.- (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, 
constitute an Archival Advisory Board for the purposes of this Act. 
(2) The Board shall consist of the following members, namely:- 
 (a) Secretary to the Government 
                   incharge of culture              - Chairman, Ex-officio; 
 (b) one officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to Government of Karnataka, each 
from the departments of Personnel and Admini strative Reforms,  Finance, Law & 
Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation      
         - Member, Ex-officio; 
 (c) three persons to be nominated by the State Government for a period not exceeding 
three years,  one being an Archivist by prof ession and two being professors in the post-
graduate Department of History in any recognized Universities from the State  - 
Members 
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 (d) Director of Archives       - Member-Secretary, Ex-officio 
(3) The members nominated under clause (c) of sub-section (2) shall be paid such allowances as 
may be prescribed. 
14. Functions of the Board.- The Board shall perform the following functions, namely:- 
(a) advise the State Government on matters  concerning the administration, management, 
conservation and use of public records; 
(b) lay down guidelines for training of Archivists; 
(c) give directions for acquisition of records from private custody; 
(d) deal with such other matters as may be prescribed. 
15. Power of the Director to lay down norms and standards for courses in archival science.- 
The Director shall have the power to lay down norms , and standards for courses, curricula, assessment and 
examinations relating to the training in archival science and other ancillary subjects. 
16. Protection of action taken in good faith.- No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall 
lie against any person in respect of anything which is  in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of 
this Act or the rules made there under. 
17. Power to make rules.- (1) The State Government may, by not ification in the Official Gazette, 
make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide 
for all or any of the following matters, namely:- 
(a) the period after which public records of per manent nature may be accepted under clause (b) of 
sub-section (2) of section 3; 
(b) the manner in which and the conditions subjec t to which public records can be destroyed under 
clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 6; 
(c) the manner in which periodical review of classified public records for downgrading shall be 
undertaken under clause (f) of sub-section (1) of section 6; 
(d) the manner in which the records officer will repor t to the Director under clause (k) of sub-section 
(1) of section 6; 
(e) the manner in which and the conditions subjec t to which public records may be destroyed or 
disposed of under sub-section (1) of section 8; 
(f) the manner in which and the conditions subject to which records of historical or national or State 
importance may be made available to research scholar under sub-section (2) of section 11; 
(g) exceptions and restrictions subject to which public records may be made available to a research 
scholar under sub-section (1) of section 12; 
(h) the allowances payable to members of the Board under sub-section (3) of section 13; 
(i) the matters with respect to which the Board ma y perform its functions under clause (d) of section 
14; 
(j) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed. 
   (3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House 
of State Legislature while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session 
or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session 
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or the  successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses 
agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of 
no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any su ch modification or annulment shall be without prejudice 
to the validity of anything previously done under that rule. 
  18. Power to remove difficulty.- (1) If any difficulty arises in giving e ffect to the provisions of this Act, 
the State Government may, by order published in the offi cial Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act, as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty: 
  Provided that, no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of tw o years from the date of 
commencement of this Act. 
  (2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before 
each House of the State Legislature. 
The above translation of PÀ£ÁðlPÀ gÁdå ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ zÁR¯ÉUÀ¼À C¢s¤AiÀĪÀÄ, 2010 (2011gÀ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ 
C¢s¤AiÀĪÀÄ ¸ÀASÉå 9) be published in the official Gazette under clause (3) of Article 348 of the Constitution of 
India. 
 
H.R.BHARDWAJ 
GOVERNOR OF KARNATAKA 
 
By Order and in the name of the Governor of Karnataka 
 
G.K. BOREGOWDA 
Secretary to Government, 
Department of Parliamentary Affairs & Legislation 
 
 
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