Central

Section 4 of The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951

1[(1) The Trustees of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial shall be the following, namely:--

(a)the Prime Minister ---Chairperson, 2* * * * *
(c)the Minister in-charge of Culture, 3[(d) the Leader of Opposition recognised as such in the House of the People or where there is no such Leader of Opposition, then the Leader of the single largest Opposition Party in that House;]
(e)the Governor of the State of Punjab,
(f)the Chief Minister of the State of Punjab, and
(g)three eminent persons to be nominated by the Central Government.]

(2)The Trustees shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession by the name of the "Trustees of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial" and a common seal, and in that name shall sue and be sued, and shall have power acquire and hold property, to enter into contracts and to do all acts necessary for, and consistent with, the purposes of this Act.

Summary

This section details who the Trustees are and explains the legal nature of the Trust.
The Trustees include the Prime Minister, who acts as the Chairperson.
Other Trustees are the Minister in charge of Culture, the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People, or the leader of the single largest opposition party if there is no official leader of the opposition, the Governor of Punjab, and the Chief Minister of Punjab.
The Central Government also nominates three eminent, meaning highly respected, persons to be Trustees.
The Trustees form a body corporate, meaning a legal entity, which has perpetual succession (continuous existence regardless of member changes), a common seal, and they can sue and be sued in court.
The Trustees have the legal power to acquire and hold property, sign contracts, and do any necessary acts that align with this law.

Practical examples

1In 2026, the Trustees decide to sign a contract with a construction company named Bhatia Builders to repair the boundary wall. Under Section 4(2), the Trustees sign the contract under their common seal as a single legal entity rather than as individuals.

2If a local shopkeeper unlawfully encroaches on the memorial's land, the Trustees can file a lawsuit against him in court in their official corporate name, Trustees of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial, under Section 4(2).

FAQ

1. Who is the Chairperson of the Trustees of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial?

The Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson.

2. How many eminent persons are nominated by the Central Government to be Trustees?

Three eminent persons are nominated.

3. What happens if there is no recognized Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People?

The Leader of the single largest Opposition Party in the House of the People will serve as the Trustee instead.

4. What kind of legal powers do the Trustees have under Section 4(2)?

They have the power to acquire and hold property, enter into contracts, and do all acts necessary for and consistent with the purposes of this Act.

5. What does body corporate mean in this section?

It means the Trustees act as a single legal person with continuous existence, regardless of who holds the individual offices.

Test yourself

Q1.Who serves as the Chairperson of the Trustees?

Q2.How many eminent persons are nominated as Trustees by the Central Government?

Q3.If there is no recognized Leader of Opposition in the House of the People, who becomes the Trustee under Section 4(1)(d)?

Q4.What is the legal status of the Trustees under Section 4(2)?

Q5.Which of the following is NOT listed as a Trustee under Section 4(1)?

Q6.What can the Trustees do in their official corporate name under Section 4(2)?

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