Finally, process set into motion to frame Toshkhana items’ inventory

Entire exercise to be video-graphed for transparency
Teams constituted to facilitate hand-over/take-over

JAMMU, Feb 23: Finally, the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has set into motion much-needed exercise to frame inventory of Toshkhana’s items and their hand-over/take-over at Jammu as well as at Srinagar.

The Administrative Council vide Decision No.115/9/2022 dated August 13, 2022 gave nod to the proposal regarding winding up of Toshkhana Organization. Accordingly, the Hospitality and Protocol Department vide Government Order No.11-JK (H&P) dated August 30, 2022 formally accorded sanction to the closure of J&K Toshkhana Organization.

It was mentioned in the order that sanctioned posts and incumbent staff and all the records and immovable/moveable assets of the Toshkhana Organization at Jammu and Srinagar will be transferred to the Department of Culture for further management of valuable and other objects of erstwhile kings of Jammu and Kashmir through the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums.
Though manpower of the Organization was formally transferred to the Department of Culture soon after the decision of the Administrative Council yet handing over and taking over of the huge assets in the shape of historic articles which include gold and silver ornaments and armory kept in the stores of Toshkhana Organization including one inside the Civil Secretariat at Jammu was getting delayed on one or the other pretext.

This was exclusively highlighted by EXCELSIOR in its edition dated November 11, 2024 laying stress on early framing of inventory of items and their formal transfer to the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums as per the museums norms.

Now, the Commissioner/ Secretary to the Government, Department of Culture K Ramesh Kumar has issued order framing one team each for Jammu and Kashmir divisions to assist Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums for monitoring of inventorization of Toshkhana and handover/takeover of Toshkhana items in their respective divisions.
For Jammu Division, the team is comprised of Assistant Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums Jammu, Curator Dogra Art Museum Jammu and Statistical Officer (Planning) of Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums Jammu.

For Kashmir Division, the team is comprised of Assistant Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums Kashmir, Curator SPS Museum Srinagar and Section Officer, Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums Srinagar.

The teams will remain physically present during the process of framing of inventory of the Toshkhana items in their respective divisions and will keep the copy of the inventory along with photographs of the individual item and the video recording of the proceedings of framing of inventory in record and reference.

Apart from assisting Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums for takeover and handover of Toshkhana items, the teams will ensure sealing/de-sealing process of the Toshkhana stores in the presence of the Magistrates under camera and will keep custody of keys and the codes of the lock/lockers (if available).

“The teams will also recommend safety and security of Toshkhana items and stores and sites in consultation with Magistrates, Police, Treasury and Department of Fire and Emergency Services”, read the order, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.

Moreover, till the mechanism of transfer of Toshkhana items to the new stores/sites is evolved and the new sites for storage of items are identified and notified the teams will ensure that the artefacts remain at the places where they presently are. The keys of the sites will remain in the custody of Assistant Directors of Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums with alternate keys to be deposited in Treasury jointly by the team and one set of keys to be deposited with the District Magistrate concerned and with the Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums.

It is pertinent to mention here that Toshkhana assets include historically significant artifacts, precious metals and antiques of immense cultural value. The inventory and handover of such items require careful, exacting documentation, as well as collaboration across multiple agencies. Due to the historical and irreplaceable nature of these items, it is essential to account for each piece precisely and securely.