Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, No. 18, Part VI, Section 1 (18 VI 1)

What the notifications cover

The Dindigul District Collector issued two notifications concerning objects discovered at specific sites in Dindigul district. They deal with claims to the discovered objects and do not announce any transfer of the land itself.

The notifications may affect anyone claiming full or partial ownership of the finds, including people connected with the specified survey fields.

Finds in Palani taluk

A field inspection was conducted on October 14 and October 15, 2007, in Survey No. 326 at Thalaiyuthu village, Palani taluk. The objects recorded include:

• Two stone oil presses, identified as belonging to the 9th and 12th centuries AD.
• One memorial stone, one Ayyanar statue and one Veeran statue, identified as belonging to the 12th century AD.
• One broken inscription fragment, identified as belonging to the 12th century AD.
• One stone slab bearing symbols, identified as belonging to the 10th century AD.
• Pottery fragments described as more than 2,000 years old.

Anyone claiming the whole or part of these finds was given an opportunity to appear personally, or through a properly appointed representative, before the Personal Assistant (General) to the Dindigul District Collector. The notification directed claimants to attend an inquiry with supporting evidence on April 27, 2009. The Dindigul District Collector dated this notification April 15, 2009.

Finds in Nilakottai taluk

A small earthen pot was found on December 17, 2006, while digging for construction of a stage in vacant land in Survey No. 691/1 at Pillaiyarnatham village, Nilakottai taluk. It contained:

• 726 small coins made from a mixture of gold, silver, copper and zinc.
• One gold coin bearing a Hanuman image, issued by the East India Company.
• Three thali chains of different lengths and metal composition.
• Gold ear ornaments, a nose ornament, toe rings and other ear ornaments.

Claimants were directed to attend an inquiry before the Personal Assistant (General) to the Dindigul District Collector, personally or through an appointed representative, with supporting evidence on March 17, 2009. The Dindigul District Collector dated this notification February 26, 2009.

Consequence if ownership is not proved

For each group of finds, the notification states that the treasure may be declared ownerless if nobody claims it, or if a claim is rejected because adequate evidence is not produced.