URBAN ARTS COMMISSION

Definitions
 “Building” includes any structure or erection or part of a structure or erection which is intended to
be used for residential, industrial, commercial or other purposes, whether in actual use or not;
 “Building operations” includes rebuilding operations, structural alterations of. Or additions to,
buildings and other operations normally undertaken in connection with the construction of
buildings;
 “Commission” means the Delhi Urban Art Commission established under section 3;
 “Delhi” means the Union territory of Delhi;
 “Development” with its grammatical variations means the carrying out of building, engineering,
mining or other operations in, on, over or under, land or the making of any material change in any
building, or land and includes redevelopment;
 “Engineering operations” includes the formation or laying out of means of access to a road or the
laying out of means of water supply;
 “Local body” means the Delhi Municipal Corporation established under the Delhi Municipal
Corporation Act, 1957, the New Delhi Municipal Committee constituted under the Punjab Municipal
Act, 1911 as in force in Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority constituted under the Delhi
Development Act, 1957, or any other local authority concerned with urban development of Delhi;
 “Member” means a member of the Commission and includes its Chairman;
 “Public amenity” includes road, water supply, street lighting, drainage, sewerage, public works and
such other convenience as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette
specify to be a public amenity for the purpose of this Act;
 “Regulation” means a regulation made under this Act by the Commission;
 “Rule” means a rule made under this Act by the Central Government.

Establishment of the Commission

 With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, appoint, there shall be established a Commission by the name of the Delhi Urban Art
Commission.
 The Commission shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with
power to acquire, hold and dispose of property and to contract and shall by the said name sue or
be sued.

Composition of the Commission

The Commission shall consist of a Chairman and such number of other members, being not less than two
and not more than four as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint
from amongst persons who, in the opinion of the Central Government, have sensibility and interest in
the plastic and visual arts and urban environment, or possess special knowledge or practical experience
in respect of architecture or art.

Terms and conditions of service of members

  A member shall, unless his appointment is terminated earlier by the Central Government, hold
office for a term of three years from the date of his appointment.
 A person who holds, or who has held, office as Chairman or member shall be eligible for
reappointment to that office once, but only once.
 A member may resign his office by writing -under his hand addressed to the Central
Government, but he shall continue in office until his resignation is accepted by the Central
Government.
 A casual vacancy caused by the resignation of a member under sub- section (3) or for any other
reason, shall be filled by fresh appointment.
 A member may be appointed either as a whole-time or part-time member as the Central
Government thinks fit.
 Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms and conditions of service of the Chairman and
other members shall be such as may be, prescribed by rules.

Meetings of the Commission

The Commission shall meet at such times and places and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard
to the transaction of business It its meetings as may be prescribed by regulation.

Vacancies amongst members or defect in Constitution not to invalidate acts or

proceedings of the Commission
No act or proceeding of the Commission shall be deemed to be invalid by reason merely of any vacancy
in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Commission.

Temporary association of persons with the Commission for particular purposes

 The Commission may associate with itself, in such manner and for such purposes as may be
determined by regulations, any person whose assistance or advice it may desire in carrying out
any of the provisions of this Act.
 A person associated with it by the Commission under sub-section (1) for any purpose shall have
`a right to take part in the discussions relevant to that purpose, but shall not have a right to vote
at a meeting of the Commission, and shall not be a member for any, other purpose.

Appointment of staff of the Commission

 The Central Government shall in consultation with the Commission appoint a Secretary of the
Commission who shall hold office during of the Central Government : Provided that the first
appointment of the Secretary may be made by the Central Government without consultation
with the Commission.
 The terms and conditions of service 6f the Secretary shall be such as may be prescribed by rules.
 Subject to any rules, the Commission may appoint such other employees as it may think
necessary for the efficient performance of its functions under this Act, and the terms and
conditions of service of the employees so appointed shall be such as may be` determined by
regulations.
Authentication of orders and other instruments of the Commission
All orders and decisions and other instruments of the Commission shall be authenticated by the
signature of the Secretary or any other officer of the Commission duly authorized by it in this behalf.

Functions of the Commission

 It shall be the general duty of the Commission to advise the Central Government in the matter of
preserving, developing and maintaining the aesthetic quality of urban and environmental design
within Delhi and to provide advice and guidance to any local body in respect of any project of
building operations or engineering operations or any development proposal which effects or is
likely to affect the skyline or the aesthetic quality of Surroundings or any public amenity
provided therein.
 Subject to -the provisions of sub-section (I), it shall be the duty of tho Commission to scrutinize,
approve, reject or modify proposals in respect of the following matters, namely :
o Development of district centers, civiccentres, areas earmarked for Government
administrative buildings and for residential complexes, public parks and public gardens;
o Re-development of the area within the jurisdiction of New Delhi Municipal Committee
including Connaught Place Complex and its environs, Central Vista, the entire bungalow
area of Liityen`s New Delhi and such other areas as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, specify;
o Plans, architectural expressions and visual appearance of new buildings in the centers,
areas, parks and gardens specified -in clauses (a) and (b) including selections of models
or statues and fountains therein;
o Re-development of areas in the vicinity of Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Qutab, Humayun`s
Tomb, Old Fort, Tuglakabad and of such other places of historical importance, as the
Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify;
o Conservation, preservation and beautification ot monumental buildings, public parks
and public gardens including location or installation of statues or fountains therein;
o Underpasses, overpasses and regulations of street furniture and hoardings;
o Location and plans of power houses, water towers. Television and other communication
towers and other allied structures;
o Any other project or lay-out which is calculated to beautify Delhi or to add to its cultural
vitality or to enhance the quality of the surroundings thereof;

Such other matters as may be prescribed by rules.

Explanation- For the purposes of this sub-section :

1. The salaries, if any, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of members of the
Commission;
2. “Connaught Place Complex”, means the area comprising Connaught Place and its extension
measuring approximately 140 hectares, being the area described as Zone D-I (Revised) in the
Delhi Master Plan;
 3. “District centre” means a self-contained unit created in the Delhi Master Plan comprising
areas for retail shopping, general business, commercial and professional offices, forwarding,
booking and Government offices, cinema, restaurants and other places of entertainment.

 Without prejudice to the provisions contained in subsection (1) and subsection (2), the
Commission may suo motu promote and secure the development, re-development or-
beautification of any areas in Delhi in respect of which no proposals in that behalf have been
received from any local body.

Duty of local bodies to refer development proposals, etc., to the Commission

Notwithstanding anything , contained in any other law for the time being , in force, every local body
shall, before according approval in respect of any building operations, engineering operations or
development proposals referred to in sub-section (1) of section 11 or intended to be undertaken in
any area or locality specified in sub-section (2) of that section, refer the same to the Commission for
scrutiny and the decision of the Commission in respect thereof shall be binding. On such local body.

Appeal to the Central Government in certain cases

If any local body is aggrieved by a decision of the Commission in respect of any building operation,
engineering operation or development proposal intended to be undertaken or notified, as the case
may be, by that local body and referred to the Commission under section 12, the local body may,
within sixty days from the date of such decision, prefer an appeal to the Central Government, and
the Central Government may pass, such order thereon as it deems fit.

Power to revise decision in certain cases

Nothing contained. In this Act shall preclude the Central Government from calling for and examining,
on its own Motion, if it considers it necessary so to do in the public interest, any case in which a
decision has been made by the Commission under section 12, but no appeal lies thereto, and
passing such order thereon as, it thinks fit.Provided that no such order shall be made prejudicially
affecting any person except after giving him an opportunity of making a representation in the matter.

Powers of the Commission

For the purpose of performing its functions under this Act, the Commission shall have the same
powers as are vested in a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, in
respect of the following matters, namely :

1. Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person examining him;

2. Requiring discovery and production of any documents ;
3. Receiving evidence on affidavits ;
4. Requisitioning any public record or copies thereof from any office;
5. Any other matter which may be prescribed by rules.

Payment to the Commission

The Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, pay to
the Commission in each financial year such sums as the Central Government may consider necessary for
the performance of the functions of the Commission under this Act.

Fund of the Commission

1. The Commission shall have its own fund all sum which may, from time to time, be paid to it by
the Central Government shall be carried to the fund of the Commission and all payments by the
Commission be made therefrom.
2. The Commission may spend such sums as it thinks fit for performing its functions under this Act,
and such sums shall be treated as expenditure payable out of the fund of the Commission.
3. All moneys in the fund shall be deposited in such bank or Invested in such manner as may,
subject to the approval of the Central Government, be decided by the Commission.

Budget
The Commission shall prepare, in such form and within such time, each year as may be prescribed by
rules, a budget in respect of the financial year next ensuing showing the estimated receipts and
expenditure, and copies thereof shall be forwarded to the Central Government.

Annual report
The Commission shall prepare once every year, in such form and within such time as may be prescribed
by rules an annual report giving a true and full account of its activities during the previous year, and
copies thereof shall be forwarded to the Central Government, and the Central Government shall cause
every such report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

Accounts and audit

1. The Commission shall cause to be maintained such books of accounts and other books in
relation to its accounts in such form and in such manner as may, in consultation with the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India be prescribed by rules.
2. The Commission shall, as soon as may be after closing its annual, accounts, prepare a statement
of accounts in such form as may be prescribed by rules, and forward the same to the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India by such date, as the Central Government may, are
consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, determine.
3. The accounts of the Commission shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of
India at such times and in such manner as he thinks fit.
4. The annual accounts of the Commission together with the audit report thereon shall be
forwarded to the Central Government. And the Central Government shall cause the same to be
laid before both Houses of Parliament and shall also forward a copy of the audit report to the
Commission for taking appropriate action on the matters arising out of the audit report.

Miscellaneous
Returns and information
The Commission shall furnish to the Central Government such returns or other information with respect
to its fund or activities as the Central Government may, from time to time, require.

Power to exempt
The Central Government may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by rules in this behalf,
exempt any building, building operation or engineering operation which has been designed as a result of
an Architectural competition, from the operation of ill or any of the provisions of this Act.

Delegation of powers
The Commission may, by general or special order in writing, delegate to the Chairman or any other
member or any officer of the Commission, subject to such conditions and limitations, if any, as may be
specified in the order, such of its powers and functions under this Act is it may deem necessary for the
efficient running of the day-to-day administration of the Commission.

Members and officers of the Commission to be public servants

All members and officers of the Commission shall, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any
of the provisions of this Act, be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the
Indian Penal Code.

Protection of action taken in good faith

No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any member or officer of the Commission in respect of
anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act.

Power to make rules

1. The, Central Government may, by notification 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 salaries, if any, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of members of
the Commission;
b) The terms and conditions of service of the Secretary of the Commission;
c) The matters in respect of which the Commission may tender advice to the Central
Government under clause, (i) of sub-section of section (2) of section 11;
d) The form in which, and the time within which, the budget and annual report of the
Commission may be prepared and forwarded to the Central Government;
e) The form and manner in which the accounts, of the Commission may be maintained, and
the time at which, and the manner in which, such accounts may be audited;
f) The returns and information. Which the Commission may be required to furnish to the
Central Government;
g) The conditions subject to whiich, any building, building operation or engineering
operation,, as a result of an architectural competition, may exempted;
h) Any other matter which has to be or may be prescribed by rules.
 3. Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after
it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days
which may be cornpriscd in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the
expiry of the session immediately following, the session or the succesive 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 such modification or annulment shall be without
prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

Power to make regulations

The Commission may with the previous approval of the Central Government, by notification in the
Official Gazette, make regulations consistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder for :

 Regulating the meetings of the Commission and the procedure for conducting business thereat;
 Regulating the manner in which and the purposes for which persons may be associated with the
Commission under section 8;
 Determining the terms and conditions of service of persons appointed by the Commission under
subsection (3) of section 9;
 Any other matter which has to be or may be prescribed by regulations.