While so, the Government of Tamil Nadu have recently taken a policy decision that all the Government Officers in the State should run an efficient, fair and just administration with integrity and that they should also be responsive and transparent to the public while discharging their duties. In order to implement and bring into light such a fruitful policy of Government  in true spirit, the Tamil Nadu Archives takes this opportunity to be proud in dedicating with utmost devotion in extending all possible services to comply with the request of the public promptly to their satisfaction, at the right time with right objective in a right manner.

To facilitate the public to get the information or particulars they need, this Hand Book titled as "CITIZENS’ CHARTER" has been brought out by highlighting the guidelines and procedures for each and every matter of public importance with formats.

Tamil Nadu Archives
And Historical Research,
Egmore, Chennai – 600 008. 

The Tamil Nadu Archives houses the records of various Departments of the Secretariat, erstwhile Board of Revenue, a few Heads of Departments, pre-mutiny records of Collectorate and District Courts and records of defunct Departments. The records dating back to 1657 A.D. (Dutch Records) are preserved in this Archives. The Secretariat records after three years of their disposal, are transferred to Tamil Nadu Archives for preservation. The records of a few Heads of Departments and erstwhile Board of Revenue are transferred to Archives after ten years of their disposal. The copies of Government Orders from the records of Secretariat are not granted to public or to any other Departments of Government other than Secretariat. There are six District Record Centres functioning at Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Cuddalore, Madurai and Thanjavur. They are also preserving records of more than thirty years old transferred from all the Government offices and Local bodies in the respective districts.

The major activities of the Archives are to centralize all permanent records, to arrange them properly, to preserve them on scientific lines, to throw them open for historical research, to publish regularly such of those as are of historical and Administrative interest and to make them all promptly and readily available for official reference in carrying on the day-to-day administration of the State.

Apart from that, the Archives is attached to Public, Scholars and Researchers to limited extent. This Institution is Research Centre recognized by the University of Madras. There is also an Archival Library in Tamil Nadu Archives which is very useful for research purpose. The earliest book relates to the year 1633 (History of Ireland). The Archival Library is not a lending Library but only a reference Library for bonafide Research Scholars. The books registered under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 are also preserved here. The Tamil Nadu Archives is extending quantitative research facilities, reprographic assistance etc. Also there are sections for publication of select documents, gazetteers, Tamil Nadu Council of Historical Research, Regional Committee for survey of Historical Records, Training on Record Management and Photo Archives, functioning in the Archives.

1. THE LOCATION OF TAMIL NADU ARCHIVES:

    Tamil Nadu Archives : 
    No.28-29, Gandhi-Irwin Road, 
    (Opp. : Egmore Railway Station) 
    Egmore,   Chennai – 600 008.
 

2. DISTRICT RECORD CENTRES:

    1. District Records Centre,                   2. District Records Centre,
        No. 71, Subramaniam Colony,              No. 2, K.K. Nagar,
        Kallukuzhi,                                          Kadalkarai Salai,
        Tiruchirappalli – 620 020.                      Cuddalore – 607 001.

    5. District Records Centre,                    6. District Records Centre,
       1, Sengupatha Street,                            1008, Mission Church Road
       Ram Nagar                                            Rajasheela Kalyana Mandapam 
       Coimbatore – 641 009                            Manampoor Chavadi, Thanjavur – 613 001.

 

The Archives is access Scholars and Researchers, only to a limited extend. Needless to say that the Archives is a resticted place for public entry as the records of Government are preserved in it. However, Scholars and Researchers are permitted access to consult the records in the Research Hall meant for them. The following are the acitivities and functions relating to public and scholars apart from the preservation of records and furnishing of records to the department of Secretariat.

1. GRANT OF CERTIFIED COPIES OF TAMIL NADU GOVT. GAZETTE EXTRACT TO PUBLIC FOR LEGAL AND OTHER PURPOSE:

The Tamil nadu Government Gazettes are supplied to all important Government Offices in the State. Normally, they are kept for reference for a period of ten years and then destroyed under rules. But in the Tamil Nadu Archives, the Gazettes are preserved permanently. So the Tamil Nadu Archives, the available for grant of copies of Gazette to public Gazette plays an important role in public life because it is an authentic publication of Government and all Government Notifications pertaining to Land, Acts, Bills, Amendments, T.M.P.S.C. Bulletin, Result of Government Examinations, appointment and service matters, departmental notifications, change of name, and so on are published in it. Such notifications are used as evidence for legal purposes. Mostly, the extracts of notifications regarding land acquisition, result of the examinations, amendment of Act and Rules, change of name, etc., published in Tamil Nadu Gazette are required by public. The Tamil Nadu Archives has been Autorised by Government to grant certified extracts from Gazette for legal and other purposes. The guideline for grant certified extracts from Gazette for legal and other purposes. The guideline for grant of Gazette extracts are as follows-

          The procedure on this is as follows:-

1. The application may on plain paper.

2. No Court fee need be affixed on the applicant since it may not be feasible to do so if the applicant is a foreigner.

3. The applicant should mentioned the name of his ancestors or the person, the probable year in which he lived in India, the name of the post he held and any other connected information available so as to enable the Archives to trace the records to find out the particulars to be supplied. The applicant should mention his postal address clearly in the application. He should also state as to for what purpose the information is required by him.

4. The application should be addressed to the Commissioner of archives and Historical Research, Tamil Nadu Archives, No. 28-29, Gandhi Irwin Road, (opp.Egmore Railway Station), Egmore, Chennai – 600 008.

5. On receipt of the application it will be, assigned a number and an acknowledgement will be sent to the application within three days.

6. The office will examine the application within ten days and explore the possibilities of supplying information to the applicant. After ascertaining the Years and area in which the search is to be made an acknowledgements will be sent to the applicant asking him to remit search fees at Rs. 25/- per year if the search relates to the year prior to 1858 and Rs. 10/- per year if it relates to the year after 1858.

7. The applicant may send the search fee by M.O. and if he is a foreigner he can send the money equivalent to the money value of Indian Rupee by cheque.

8. The search will begin after realization of the cheque in such cases.

9. If the search is made in the area of approximate years and the information could not be traced it should be extended to back years or later and additional by search fee will be called for by the office.

10. On receipt of the additional search fee from the applicant, the search will be continued by the office.

11. After exhausting all the sources, possible, if the required information is available, it will be supplied by way of letter to the applicant by post.

12. The time of supplying the information depends on the time requisite for the search according to the area and years in which the records have to be perused and traced. After exhausting all the record sources, book sources will also be exhausted.

The old survey and settlement records are preserved in Tamil Nadu Archives. If any person wants to trace title of his landed property or their boundaries or the history of the land or to produce such information before Court of Law, he may apply for grant of certified copies of such records. However, the copies will be granted by the Commissioner of Revenue Administration or Director of Survey and Land Records as the case may be, even though the Commissioner of Revenue Administration or to the Director of Survey and Land Records will not be issuing any copies to the public from the records preserved in the Archives. So the public should not be under the impression that the Archives. So the public should not be under the impression that the Archives is the sole authority for issuing any copy or information with regard to landed properties as in the case of Gazette extracts. If any person wants any information or copy of records concerning the landed property, he may apply detailed below:-

TO WHOM APPLICATION SHOULD BE SENT: FOR WHAT PURPOSE:

1. Commissioner of Revenue Administration, 1. Copies of old settlement

    Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005. Register (OSR).

2. Director of Survey and Land Records, 1. Survey Map.

    Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005. 2. Survey and Re-Survey Particulars.

3. Copy from Field Measurement Books.

The Tamil Nadu Archives being a research centre, scholars and researchers are permitted to do research on their topics. The scholars from various Universities in India, and also from abroad are utilizing the Tamil nadu Archives for their research. They require copies of required portions from records and books for their research. The Archives is having repographic facilities, such as xerox, microfilm etc., The Government fix the rate for issue of copies from time to time. The following are the guidelines for grant of copies for scholars.

1. The Archives scholars and researchers shall apply for permission in the prescribed form.

2. The Archives will collect the originals from which the copies are required and assess the number of pages for which copies are required.

3. After assessing the number of pages, the office will arrive at the copying charges if it is a Xerox at Rs. 1.00 per page and if it is microfilm print out at Rs. 5.00 per page and if it is an exposure Rs. 2.00 per exposure and intimate the copying charges to the scholar and to remit it in cash within a specified date. The rates are subject to changes.

4. The scholar has to remit the copying charges in the office.

5. On remitting the amount, the originals will be sent for taking Xerox or micro print out as the case may be. The copies will be made ready on priority basis to scholars.

6. The copies will be issued to the scholars on the day itself if the copies are limited and if the copies are to be taken in bulk, on the next day.

7. In case of any urgency, the scholars should make a special mention in his application stating the reasons for the urgency.

8. If the books or records in which copies are required have been taken or issued to some other scholars, the copies may be taken on the next day giving top priority to the work without inconvenience to the other scholars.

 VII. GRANT OF PERMISSION FOR RESEARCH AND ACCESS TO RECORDS IN TAMIL NADU ARCHIVES:

Treasure of records in the Tamil Nadu Archives are utilized for research purpose by the scholars of various parts of the world as they contain valuable information of the past. The rare books in the Archives library are better availed by the scholars for their research. As the Archives is in possession of Government records of the Secretariat the access to records are limited and governed by rules prescribed there for. Except for, the purpose of research, the access to records are strictly prohibited. Based on the rules framed, the guidelines for access to records are as follows:-

1. The applicant should be a bonofied scholar.

2. Access for records shall be permitted only for bonafied research.

3. All the records of more than 30 years old whether confidential or non – confidential will be thrown open for research.

4. However the records which have been classified as "SECRET" will not be allowed access for research. If such records relate to the past, the Director of Archives may go through the records and consider whether it can be allowed for consultation.

5. The G.Os relating to the last 30 years will be permitted to be consulted, if they were traced at the disposal of the press or notified in the Gazette.

6. Access to records will be permitted for the purpose of research connected with personal family affairs also subject to the production of documentary evidence to the satisfaction of the Director of Archives and Historical Research about the purpose of the research.

7. Any person wishing to examine records should apply in writing to the Director of Archives and Historical Research, Tamil Nadu Archives, Egmore, Chennai-8 in the prescribed form for admission of scholars as in Annexure-IV

8. The following are accepted as bonafied Research Scholars.

1. Ordinary and corresponding members of the Indian Historical Records Commissions.

2. Pro-Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Professors and Researchers of recognised Universities in India.

3. Post-Graduate Research scholar of recognised Universities, who produces a certificate from the Vice-Chancellor or the appropriate Professor/Reader of his/her University, or the Professor of an autonomous college who is research guide or supervisor or the Principal of a Post Graduate College, or who produces any further evidence as the Director any consider necessary.

4. Post-Graduate researcher who produces documentary evidence to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research for the purpose of his/her research.

5. Any Official of the Government, accepted by the Commissioner/Director as Research Scholar when the work is undertaken with the approval of the Head of the Department of the applicant. In this case a "No Objection Certificate" from the head of the Department should be insisted, with a view to see that the research would in no way be prejudicial to the discharge of his duties.

6. Any other person accepted by the Commissioner/Director on special grounds.

9. An enrolement fee of Rs. 100/- will be collected from the Scholars before permission is granted.

10. Applications from aliens must be accompanied by (1) Certificates from the Government of India’s Diplomatic or Consular representative in their countries of origins to show that they are bonafied

11.  research students or (2) proof of their having been permitted access to the records in the National Archives of India during the proceeding six months or (3) whose research project is cleared by the Government of India. Applications from aliens not accompanied by the Certificate or proof as mentioned above will not be considered.

12. All Applications will be disposed of by the Commissioner/Director of Archives and Historical Research in Accordance with the rules drawn up form time to time by Government unless he considers that any particular application should be referred to government for orders.

13. Permission to have access to records to a Research Scholar will be valid for a period to be specified by the Commissioner/Director in  his written order granting permission. It may be renewed within the date of its expiry. In this case, no fresh recommendation is necessary. If the application for the renewal of permission is made after the date of expiry of the previous permission it will be treated afresh and the production of necessary certificates will be insisted in such applications.

14. The Government reserve to themselves the right to refuse or to modify and application.

15. Inspection of records will be allowed only in the Tamil Nadu Archives.

16. The research hall of the Tamil Nadu Archives is open on all days of the year except on hoildays, which shall be notified by the Tamil Nadu Archives well in advance. The number of such notified hoildays shall not exceed 15 in a year.

17. The hours of admission are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all days except on Saturdays, Sundays and other hoildays which are not notified as closed hoildays to the Research hall will remain open form 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on those days.

18. Persons not wishing of being unable ti examine the records themselves should apply to the Commissioner who will, where possible arrange for a search to be undertaken on payment of the fee to be fixed by him depending on the nature of each case.

19. A set of indexes, Press lists and other Finding Aids have been kept in the "Research Hall" for ready reference and easy consultation. To requisition documents, the Scholar has to fill in a Requisition Form available in the Research Hall and put it in the wooden tray or box allotted for each record stack kept in the Research Hall. These requisitions will be cleared by the staff concerned thrice a day at 10.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. (On working days only) and the records requisitioned will be supplied in the Research Hall. A card called "Record Issue Card" will be supplied to each scholar in the Research Hall. This card would show the number of records issued to him/her, and the number pending with him/her. This card should be shown to the staff at the time of issue of records or receiving, and returning of records by Scholars, and the staff would make necessary entries in the card. Since the stacks remain closed on Saturday and other Hoildays Scholars are advised to get their documents in advance. When a Scholar has finished with a document, he/she could hand it over to the staff. Those wishing to have documents kept out for their use should inform the Assistant of the Research Hall who will be provided a separate shelf for purposes of storage.

20. No person may have more than ten documents at any point of time. Efforts will be made, however, to relax this rule, when there is no rush and less attendance in the Research Hall. If a record is in fragile condition, it will be given for inspection only after it has been duly repaired.

21. Smoking is strictly prohibited in the rooms, where records are perused or kept, The books and other materials shall be handled with great care and caution. No one shall write on documents or put on document on top of another or lay note books or paper on them. Any defect in or damage to a document or book should be pointed out to the officer in the Research Hall at the time of taking it, Big folio volumes should be place on books rests and handled carefully. No mark of any part may be made on any record with pen, pencil or any other materials. Notes are allowed to be taken only with a Pencil or Ball Point Pen. Absolute silence will be maintained in the Research Hall. Discussion across the table with Fellows, Research Scholars is totally prohibited.

22. No Photographic reproduction or Microfilming of tracing or records shall be made by any person without written permission of the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall not give such permission, if it appears to him that the process of photographic reproduction or microfilming or tracing is likely to cause damage to the documents.

23. Any persons who has used the Tamil Nadu Archives records for historical research and has published work base on these records, is required to deposit in the Tamil Nadu Archives free of charge, one copy of his works as soon as it is published.

24. A security deposit Rs. 500/- (Rupees Five Hundred Only) will be collected from the applicant before permission is granted. The deposit amount will be refunded in full after one copy of the work is deposited by the researchers provided that the Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research may exempt any applicant from the payment of security deposit for the reasons to be recorded in writing.

25. Permission to consult the records may be withdrawn by the Commissioner at his discretion for the sufficient reasons, such a willful breath of any of the foregoing rules, persistent disregard of office authority, damage of any sort to any record or article belonging to the Tamil Nadu Archives, conduct language habit or any other matter offensive or likely to be offensive to the staff or to other research scholars. It will be open to the Scholar aggrieve by such order to represent his case to the Government of Tamil Nadu.

26. The enrolment fee and the amount of security deposit will be subject to alteration by Government from time to time.

 VIII. COLLECTION OF PRIVATE RECORDS FROM PUBLIC:

Most of the public may not aware of the historical importance of such records in their possession. They can voluntarily come forward to bring it to the notice of Archives, or the nearest District Record Centre, or Collectors or any members of the Regional Committee of Survey of Historical Records ass to the possession of such records with them. They may not fear that such records or books will be acquired by the Archives compulsorily. But, it is not so. Some people may fear or may no be willing to part with such records or books in memory of their ancestors.

Every person may either hand over the original to the Archives as the records will be preserved for centuries by adopting scientific methods or they can retain the original with them and allow to take a Xerox copy of such records for preservation in Archives. If they hand over the original, they will be given access to peruse the original at any time in the Archives and can take return of the original by leaving a Xerox copy.

Intimation about such records shall be sent by any private persons by way or a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research, Tamil Nadu Archives, 28-29, Gandhi Irwin Road, Egmore, Chennai –600 008.

On Receipt of the intimation, the commissioner of Archives or the Collector or the Assistant Commissioner of district Record Centre or the member of the Regional Committee, will approach the applicant and verify the records, books, etc., to see whether it throws any importance.

If the records are valuable and to the preserved, the officers from Tamil Nadu Archives or District Record Centre, will ask the applicant as to whether he is willing to hand over the original and to retain a Xerox copy. If the person is willing to do so, he may hand over the original to the officer of the Tamil Nadu Archives or District Record Centre who will immediately furnish a form as shown in the Annexure-3 and note particulars of documents and the form shall be signed by the person. One from shall be retained with him and the other is meant for Archives. The officer shall make an acknowledgement on the foot of the form for having received the original record or Xerox copy as the case may be. The form with such acknowledgement will be retained by the person handing over the record or Xerox copy.

 IX. REPAIR OF OLD RECORDS AND BOOKS OF PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS:

The Tamil Nadu Archives has facilities for preservation of records by scientific methods. The following methods of preservation are available.

1. Fumigation of records.

2. Lamination.

3. Chiffon mending.

4. Mending of brittled books and records.

5. Binding.

The public institutions may avail the facility to get the old and brittled documents and books mended by scientific methods.The rates for each item will be fixed depending on the repqir involvement in each case.

 X. SALE OF ARCHIVAL PUBLICATIONS:

The Tamil Nadu Archives has a publication wing. It is engaged in the work of preparation of Select document on the specific subjects as approved by Government. The copies of select documents and old publication from records for the period 1670-1760 are available for sale among scholars and public. A few old reprints are available for sale in the Archives.

The details regarding the availability of the publications for sales may be had from the Tamil Nadu Archives either by post or in person.

 XI. SALES OF DISTRICT GAZETTEERS:

District Gazetteers are authentic government publications, published for each district to highlight the history, people, culture, geography, education, general administration, agriculture, economic trends, trade, commerce, law and order and justice, public life, social science, local self government, revenue, places of interest etc. In other words it is an encyclopaedia of the District. This books is useful, for scholars, researchers, administrators historians and public. A separate wing for this publication is functioning in the Tamil Nadu Archives.

The price of saleable copies of District Gazetteer has been fixed at 10 percent of actual cost. The copies are sold in Government Publication Depot, Anna Salai, Chennai – 2. (Near Poompuhar). The public who are in need of District Gazetteer may get the copies from Government Publication Depot.

 XII. ENDOWMENT LECTURES:

The Tamil Nadu Archives is conducting endowment lectures for the benefit of scholars and researchers from out of the following endowments, periodically.

 1. Dr. Palani G. Periaswamy,

    Endowment (Rs. 25,000/-).

2.  Prof. A. Palaniswamy, Memorial Endowment (Rs. 25,000/-)

3.  T.T.K. Endowment Donated by Thiru T.T. Vasu (Rs. 50,000/-)

The venue and date of endowment lectures are notified in prominent newspapers. The lectures are delivered by eminent persons on various subjects. The public Scholars and researchers may avail the opportunity of this facility.

XIII. ADMISSION OF PUBLIC TO VISIT ARCHIVES:

It is well known fact that Archives is a protected area and admission to public is restricted. Everybody would be anxious to see the historical and old records preserved in Archives. Though the old records are like monuments in museum, entry is restricted inasmuch as the records preserved here are mostly Secretariat records. However, to inculcate Archives consciousness in the minds of public, Archives Week celebrations are conducted every year in which record exhibition plays a vital role. The age old records, and rare books are kept in the exhibition to which the public are allowed to see and enjoy such items and to realize the importance of Archives. Apart from the records, are photo collections are also available in the photo Archives. While the contents in the old records would attract the mind, the photos, would bring every incident of history to the vision of each and everybody.

The Archives week celebrations are conducted Nation wide and the date of celebrations will be notified in newspapers. The public and the school children can derive benefits.

XIV. AWARDING OF FELLOWSHIPS BY THE COUNCIL OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH, TAMILNADU ARCHIVES:

The Council of Historical Research is attached to Tamil Nadu Archives. The aim of this council is to encourage those who possess the competence and ability to write connected account of the various aspects of life in the South, by offering the fellowships every year. Honable Minister for Education is the Chairman of the council. The Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research is the Member-Secretary. Secretary to Government, Higher Education department is the official member. Three non-official members are also nominated from among the reputed historians and scholars. The guidelines for fellowships are as in Annexure-1.

The Council has recently taken a decision to offer part time fellowship instead of full time fellowship of whom 3 fellows shall be selected from Lectures, Professors and Ph.D. Holders or research scholars from the University and College Fellowship will be reserved for a staff in Tamil Nadu Archives. The number of part time fellowships shall be increased to 6. The council has also recommended that the stipend for part time fellowship should be raised from Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 2000/-. The matter is under consideration of Government.

XV. ADMISSION OF SCHOLARS FOR DOING PH.D. (HISTORY) IN THE TAMIL NADU ARCHIVES RESEARCH CENTRE:

The Tamil Nadu Archives has been recognized as a Research Centre for doing Ph.D. in History. There are 2 guides in the Tamil Nadu Archives. Applications are called for the University of Chennai every year in dailies. The scholar who wish to do Ph.D. in Tamil Nadu Archives may join and avail the facility.

XVI. GRANT OF COPIES OF GOVERNMENT ORDERS TO PUBLIC GOVERNMENT, OFFICES ETC:

Tamil Nadu Archives is the store house of Government records. It is the paramount custodian and guardian of the records. The records are only preserved for permanence. The entire rights to deal with the records rests with the Departments of Government which created the records and this Archives has nothing to do with them either to give any information or the grant copies of the Government orders. However, the copy of Gazette in which the G.O. has been published is granted to public. The copies of G.O. will not be granted to any public or to any other Government offices in the State except to the Secretariat.

XVII. GRANT OF COPIES FROM DISTRICT RECORD CENTRE:

The District record Centres are functioning in the Districts of Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Cuddalore and Thanjavur. The Government are creating District Record Centres in phased manner for each District in the State. The District Record Centres are preserving records of more than 30 years old which are transferred to them from all the Government offices, and local bodies in the District. The District Record Centres are oly the custodian of records, and the right to deal with them rests with the creating agency of the records, viz., the respective offices in the District. So, the District Record Centres will not grant any copy of records in its custody. The public requiring any copy of the records in the custody . The public requiring any copy of the records in the custody of District Record Centres should apply to the office concerned direct.

XVIII. SUMMONS TO PRODUCTION OF RECORDS IN COURT:

The Tamil Nadu Archives is the custodian of the records transferred to It by Government or erstwhile Board of Revenue for preservation. It has nothing to do with the records without the consent or knowledge of the creating agency, viz., the Secretariat or the departments of erstwhile Board of Revenue. So the public and litigants may not be under the impression that any Government record required for evidence before Court of law may be summoned through the Court direct from the Archives. The summons for production of records has to be taken out to the Department of Government concerned who will obtain the records from Archives and produce them before Court.

The Electoral roll will be sent to the Revenue Divisional Officer/Corporation of the city to company with the application. The copies will be granted, to the applicant by that office as per the procedure prescribed in that office.

 ANNEXURE – 1

GUIDELINES FOR FELLOWSHIPS

 FELLOWSHIPS: ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION:

The Council will offer four Fellowships every year (Please see G.O. 806,Edn., dt. 30-4-82).

The areas of research, for which the Fellowships are created will be ordinarily confined to the past three centuries of the history of Tamil Nadu. The period of Fellowship will be two years from the date of joining of the Fellow, or till the date on which the Fellow is able to finish his research, whichever is shorter.

1. The selection of the Fellows will depend on their proved intellectual competence.

2. The selection will be by examining the projects of the applications. The Council will first determine, on the basis of a candidate’s written project, whether he has a clear perception of the problem he wishes to study. It will then consider what the new questions he has raised are, what the issues he is concerned with are, and what connections he discerns among them. It will then take into account his background, of study and research, and his practical experience. Though there will be no bar on the age of the candidate, the Council will encourage persons who are below forty five. Also, where everything is equal, or almost so, the Council will give preference to the person coming from that section of society, which has for long remained academically deprived. The decision of the Council, in selection, shall be final.

 REMUNERATION AND CONTINGENT GRANT:

The Council will pay each Fellow a monthly stipend ranging from Rs.750/- to Rs.1000/- the exact amount to be decided by the Council. If the person selected for the Fellowship happens to be already in Government employment, he would be offered a monthly stipend, equal to his pay and allowance plus Rs.100/-. They are not eligible to draw their salary in their parent department. The Fellowship period of Government servants to the Council will be treated as on deputation to the Council.

The Council will also reimburse his research expenses including the purchase of books, expenditure, secretarial assistance and the like on production of vouchers, subject to a maximum of Rs.5,000/- a year. The Fellow will be paid the travelling allowance and daily allowance at the rates prescribed by the Government from time to time. The provisions of the Tamil Nadu Travelling Allowance Rules shall be followed for all other purposes of claiming the travel expenses.

CONDITIONS:

A fellow of the Council should work under the general supervision of the Commissioner of Archives. He will submit a report of the Commissioner after the first six months of his research. Thereafter he will report to the Commissioner once in three months on the progress of his work. It is also obligatory on the part of the Fellow to report the progress of his work to the commissioner as and when called for. The Commissioner will call for an interim report at the end of one year to guide the fellow and cancel the fellowship if the fellow is engaged on irrelevancies and to make use of the Archives for the purpose the fellowship which must be evinced in the report.

The fellow will also be obliged not to publish any thesis or any part of it, written by him under the Fellowship of the Council, without the prior permission of the council. Violation will amount to breach of trust. A research Fellow shall engage himself on his research work on a whole time basis and shall not accept during the period of Fellowship any other assignment (with or without payment) without the prior permission of the Council in writing.

Unless the Council decides otherwise, all equipments and books purchased out of the contingent grant shall be transferred to the Council as soon as the Fellow completes his project. The council will accept responsibility for any financial expenditure or liability arising out of the project except what has been specifically approved by it and conveyed to the fellow through the sanction order.

The Council reserves the right to demand that the raw data or such part of it as may be specified shall be transferred to it. The fellow selected should submit a draft indemnity bond as prescribed and annexed to these rules. The fellow should submit his thesis to the Council within a period of one year from the date of completion of his Fellowship.

The council shall be entitled to recover the entire amount paid to the fellow for his research if he does not submit his thesis to the Council within a period specified in Rule 32. The final project report submitted by the by Fellows will be eligible for publication if in the opinion of two outside consultants decided on by the Council are of the view that the report is worthy of publication.

If the consultants are in favour of publication, the council shall decide whether the publication be done by it or by the Fellow with subvention from the Council. The quantum of subvention will be decided by the Council in each case, on merit. In doing so the Council will take into consideration the probable sale proceeds of the publication.

The Council shall impose such restrictions, or conditions on the publications of the reports as it thinks fir in each case.

TERMINATION OF THE FELLOWSHIP:

The Council may terminate the Fellowship, after him reasonable opportunity to explain, or show cause against termination of his fellowship if it is of the view that the progress is not satisfactory, or that he has neglected his work, or that he has been indifferent towards it or that he has seriously violated the rules and conditions of the Fellowship. The decision of the Council shall be final.

In the event of the termination of Fellowship under Rule 38 or due to resignation, or other causes, the Council shall be entitled to recover the entire amount paid to the Fellow, till the date of termination.

LEAVE:

Leave for a maximum period of thirty days in a year in addition to general holidays may be taken by the Research Fellows with the approval of the Member-Secretary, Tamil Nadu Council of Historical Research. The woman Fellows shall be eligible for maternity leave with full pay for a period not exceeding three months once during the term of the fellowship. For this purpose the fellow need be Government Servant. The leave salary will be the pay last drawn.

ANNEXURE – 2

STACK - 1

From To

Petition Department 1857 1882 Military Department 1857 1895

Petition (Endt.) Department 1876 1885

Political Department 1857 1936

Ecclesiastical Department 1857 1936

Medical Department 1916 1920

Home (Miscellenceous) Department 1919 1920

Revenue (Special War) Department 1919 1920

Public (R.D.P.) Department 1957 1959

Rural Development and Local

Administration Department 1959 1960

Public Department 1857 1965

Education Department 1861 1965

Public Health Department 1921 1965

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette 1832 1994

Government of India Gazette 1864 1985

INTERIM REPOSITORY:

STACK –2

From To

Public Department 1965 1990

Education Department 1965 1990

Health and family Welfare Department 1965 1990

Personal and Administrative Reforms Department 1976 1990

Information, Tourism and Tamil Culture Department 1981 1990

Indian Medicine and Homeopathy Department 1984 1988

Tamil Development Culture Department 1984 1990

Home Department 1965 1990

Social Welfare Department 1968 1988

Transport Department 1971 1990

Finance Department 1965 1990

Institutional Finance Department 1983 1986

Prohibition and Excise Department 1971 1977

Planning and Development Department 1981 1989

Home Passport Department 1966 1971

Law Department 1964 1989

Handloom, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Dept. 1985 1990

Employment Service Department 1983 1988

Industries Labour and Housing Department 1967 1969

Industrial Department 1969 1990

Co-Operation Department 1969 1988

Labour and Employment Department 1969 1990

(Housing subject also deal with in Labour

Department from 1969-1972)

Housing and Urban Development Department 1972 1990

Commercial Taxes and Religious Endowment Dept. 1976 1990

Forest and Fisheries Department 1973 1988

Environment and Control Department - 1988

Food and Agricultural Department - 1990

Agriculture Department 1965 1990

Food Department 1966 1983

Food and consumer Protection Department 1984 1988

Revenue Department 1965 1990

Public works Department 1965 1989

Rural Development and Local Administration Dept. 1965 1984

Rural development Department 1984 1989

Municipal Administration and Water Supply Dept. 1984 1989

STACK – 3

From To

Finance Department 1857 1964

Finance (Pension) Department 1857 1942

Finance (Code) Department 1926 1927

Finance (Book) Branch 1901 1906

Judicial Department 1857 1922

Judicial (Police) Department 1923 1925

Judicial (Magisterial) Department 1923 1924

Public (Police) Department 1929 1936

Law (General) Department 1921 1936

Home Department 1936 1965

Home (Passport) Department 1946 1964

Legislative Department 1862 1936

Legal Department 1936 1953

Law Department 1953 1964

Legislative Council (President’s Orders) 1921 1936

STACK – 4

Revenue Department 1857 1964

Food And Agriculture Department 1946 1964

Food and Agriculture (Food Production) Department 1950 1956

Development Department 1921 1953

Industries, Labour and Co-operation Department 1953 1964

Industries, Labour and Co-operation (Special) Dept. 1956 1960

Law Registration Department 1921 1936

Separate Revenue Department 1915 1925

Revenue Special Department 1918 1920

Routine Revenue (RR) Department 1949 1950

Firka Development Department 1947 1950

Rural Welfare Department 1950 1953

STACK – 2

From To

Electronic, Science & Technology Department 1985 1989

Adi Dravida & Tribal Welfare Department 1988 1990

Backward Class and Most Backward Class

& Social Welfare Department 1988 1990

Co-operation, Food & Consumer Protection Dept. 1988 1990

Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Department 1988 1990

Environment & Forest Department 1988 1990

LIBRARY:

STACK – 5

From To

Almanac 1800 1935

Army and Civil Lists 1804 1962

Census 1871 1981

Periodicals 1831 1994

Press Lists 1670 1800

Calendar of Madras Despatches 1744 1765

Parliamentary Debates (Commons) 1917 1958

Parliamentary Debates (Lords) 1937 1958

Parliamentary Debates (Lok Sabha) 1951 1958

Constituent Assembly Debates 1946 1950

Madras Legislative Assembly Debates 1921 1993

Madras Legislative Council Debates 1921 1986

Registrar of Books 1867 1992

 List of some of the old and Rare Books available in the Library:

The History of Ireland – 1633 – Bublin 1633 - by Meredith Hanmer, Edmund omption and edmund spenses.   Some year Travels into Africa and Asia, London, 1638 – by Tho. Herbert.Open on Dergang Van cormandel  1693 – by Daniel Havart.

A new Account of East India and Persia, London, 1698 – by John Fryer.

A new Account of the East Indies, Edinburg, volume – II 1927 – by Alexander Hamilton.

Select views in Mysore, the country of Tippoo Sultan, London, 1794 – Home.

Travels in Africa, Egypt and Syria 1792-1789, London, 1799 – W.G. Browne.

Journal of a Voyage in 1811 and 1812, to Madras and China – by James Wathem.

Journal of the Legislative Council of Fort st.George 1913 (in Parchment).

The Bombardment of Madras by the German cruiser, "EMDEN" Higginbothams, Madras 1914 (Photos).

Jail Diary, 1922 – C. Rajagopalachari.

Bala Barata, Volume – I, 1970-1908 (4 issues) (Edited by Poet Subramanya Bharathi).

STACK – 6

From To

Marine Department 1857 1936

Railway Department 1870 1924

Irrigation Department 1877 1926

Financial Local Department 1855 1920

Financial Municipal Department 1855 1920

Local Administration Department 1920 1959

Public Works Department 1857 1965

Rural Development and Local Administration 1960 1965

STACK - 7

From To

Public Department 1670 1856

Military Department 1752 1856

Revenue Department 1774 1856

Secret Department 1796 1850

Judicial Department 1798 1856

Political Department 1800 1856

Financial Department 1811 1856

Commercial Department 1815 1882

Petition Department 1815 1882

Law Department 1815 1856

Foreign Department 1816 1846

Ecclesiastical Department 1818 1856

Marine Department 1838 1856

Public Works Department 1843 1856

Financial (Railway Department) 1853 1856

Non-Secretariat Records:

From To

Persian 1670 1847

Dutch 1657 1825

Danish 1779 1845

Madras Army 1761 1895

Mayor’s Court 1689 1858

Madras Mint 1744 1876

Corner’s Records 1853 1889

Board of Revenue 1786 1858

Collectors Records 1708 1860

District Court Records 1802 1883

High Court Records 1801 1862

Merged State Records 1787 1857

Church Records 1739 1907

Defunct Committee Records 1950 1993

STACK – 8

From To

Board of Revenue (Consultations) 1786 1856

Land Revenue (Settlement) Printed 1857 1887

Land Revenue 1887 1980

Revenue Settlement 1887 1922

Separate Revenue 1887 1924

Excise 1925 1978

Press Series 1926 19511954 1957

Court of Wards 1885 1958

Commercial Taxes 1939 1980

Food Production 1949 1980

Inam Commissioner’s Disposals 1858 1954

Inam Deputy Collectors 1858 1871

Irrigation Development Board 1931 1956

Settlement of Estates 1950 1980

Forest 1886 1918

Chief Conservator of Forests 1919 1968

Fodder and Grazing Committee Preceding 1938 1959

Records Relating to Former Travancore Cochin State 1921 1941

Custodian of Evacuee Property 1951 1952

Land Administration 1971 1976

Land Reform 1960 1964

From To

Original Survey Maps, Survey and Board Copies 1859 1900

Resurvey Mounted Litho Maps 1896 1917

Unmounted Litho Maps 1896 1917

Soil Block Maps 1906 1907

Ferro-Prussiate Prints 1906 1907

Ferro-Prussiate Tracings 1906 1907

Amin Field Measurement Books 1867 1889

Original Field Measurement Books and Estate Survey 1896 1967

Traverse Field Books (Old and New) 1896 1967

Traverse Sheets (Old and New) 1866 1967

Maps Plans and Touring Maps 1866 1967

Updating Registry Scheme Field Measurement Books 1979 1987

New Resurvey Field Measurement Books 1960 1968