Selection and transfer of public records to the National Archives
9. (1) The Director shall have access to any place of deposit of public records and shall have the power to examine such records with a view to listing or collecting information therefrom or to taking such steps as are necessary for their transfer to the National Archives for permanent preservation.
(2) It shall be the duty of the responsible officer of any public office or any other person for the time being having custody of any public records-
(a) to afford the Director or any other officer authorised by him in writing all facilities for the examination and selection of such public records for permanent preservation and for the transfer of such records to the National Archives;
(b) to keep in safe custody in such office any class or description of public records selected by the Director or by such other officer pending the transfer of such records to the National Archives;
(c) to perform such duties in connection with selection and listing of such public records in his custody for transfer to the National Archives as may be required by the Director; and
(d) to transfer such records, being records not less than twenty five years old, as are required by the Director to be transferred to the National Archives for permanent preservation:
Provided that the transfer of any public records to the National Archives may be temporarily deferred and such records retained in the office of origin for administrative or other purposes for such period as may be agreed upon by the responsible officer of such office and the Director, and in every such case a list of records so retained shall be transferred to the Director by the responsible officer:
Provided further that the responsible officer transferring any public records which he may consider to be of a confidential or secret nature or which contain any other information which should not be divulged to the public may specify conditions subject to which such records shall be kept in the National Archives or shall be made available for public inspection, and it shall be the duty of the Director to comply with such conditions.
