[MSN] New Delhi, Sep 11: The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it has decided to strengthen the security measures at all national museums under its control, including verification of all artifacts by an outside agency to prevent thefts.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Security beefed up at museums, Centre tells SC

Posted at Tuesday, 11 September 2007 11:09 IST  
New Delhi, Sep 11: The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it has decided
to strengthen the security measures at all national museums under its
control, including verification of all artifacts by an outside agency to
prevent thefts.

According to the Centre, the verification of the artifacts which has
conventionally been done by the internal staff of the respective museum
would henceforth be done by an outside agency.

The idea is to prevent any possible internal connivance for thefts of
artifacts and historical monuments.

The Centre's submission comes in the wake of a PIL filed by a Kolkotta-based
chartered accountant Subhas Datta who sought such measures following
frequent thefts of artifacts from museums, including the prized Nobel Prize
medallion of the legendary Rabindranath Tagore, a few years ago.

Responding to a PIL filed on the matter, the Centre said it has decided to
introduce measures like computerised photo-tickets, electronic surveillance
system, installation of CCTVs, auto cameras at entrances, carrying out
visitor's bio-metric photography and other such steps.

These measures would be introduced at the different Central Government's
museums which are under the control of the Ministry of Culture based on the
extent of the theft/threat perception and logistic needs. 

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