Constitution of Council of Architecture
Section 3 of the Architects Act, 1972 deals with constitution of Council of Architecture. The Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute, with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification, a Council to be known as the Council of Architecture, which shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to a The Act came into force on 02 Apr 1973.
(1) The Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute, with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification, a Council to be known as the Council of Architecture, which shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and may by that name sue or be sued.
(2) The Head Office of the Council shall be at Delhi or at such other place as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
(3) The Council shall consist of the following members, namely:--
(a) five architects possessing recognised qualifications elected by the Indian Institute of Architects from among its members;
(b) two persons nominated by the All India Council for Technical Education established by the Resolution of the Government of India in the late Ministry of Education No. F.16-10/44-E. III, dated the 30th November, 1945;
(c) five persons elected from among themselves by heads of architectural institutions in India imparting full-time instruction for recognised qualifications;
(d) the Chief Architects in the Ministries of the Central Government to which the Government business relating to defence and railways has been allotted and the head of the Architectural Organisation in the Central Public Works Department, ex officio;
(e) one person nominated by the Central Government;
(f) an architect from each State nominated by the Government of that State;
(g) two persons nominated by the Institution of Engineers (India) from among its members; and
(h) one person nominated by the Institution of Surveyors of India from among its members.
Explanation.-- For the purposes of this sub-section,--
(a) "Institution of Engineers (India)" means the Institution of Engineers (India) first registered in 1920 under the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913) and subsequently incorporated by a Royal Charter in 1935;
(b) "Institution of Surveyors of India" means the Institution of Surveyors registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860).
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (a) of sub-section (3), the Central Government may, pending the preparation of the register, nominate to the first Council, in consultation with the Indian Institute of Architects, persons referred to in the said clause (a) who are qualified for registration under section 25, and the persons so nominated shall hold office for such period as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (f) of sub-section (3), the Central Government may, pending the preparation of the register, nominate to the first Council, in consultation with the State Governments concerned, persons referred to in the said clause (f), who are qualified for registration under section 25, and the persons so nominated shall hold office for such period as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
Section 3, The Architects Act, 1972 (Act 20 of 1972).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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All India Council for Technical Education v. Shri Prince Shivaji Maratha Boarding House's College of Architecture
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
On architectural education recognition/approval, Architects Act 1972 prevails over AICTE Act 1987 where opinions conflict; CoA primacy under ss.14 and 21 (minimum standards / recognition). Document body dated November 08, 2019 matches Judgement index (order-163.pdf).
On this section: Establishes the primacy, within its field, of the statutory body that Section 3 constitutes, and the scheme of the Act that flows from that constitution.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… Both of them are regulatory bodies constituted by Parliamentary legislations having power to approve or recognize and thereafter monitor working of such an institution. 3 . The CoA owes its origin to the provisions of Section 3 of the Architects Act, 1972 (the 1972 Act). AICTE has also been constituted under the provisions of Section 3 of the All India Council of Technical Education Act, 1987 (the 1987 Act). As the preambles of these two statutes suggest, the former has been enacted to provide for registration of Architects and for matters …
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 3
What have the courts held on Section 3 of the Architects Act?
All India Council for Technical Education v. Shri Prince Shivaji Maratha Boarding House's College of Architecture (08 Nov 2019) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Establishes the primacy, within its field, of the statutory body that Section 3 constitutes, and the scheme of the Act that flows from that constitution.
How do I find court cases under Section 3 of the Architects Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Architects Act 1972 3, section 3 Architects Act 1972, section 3 of the Architects Act. People searching for it also type architect act 3 silksong. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with All India Council for Technical Education v. Shri Prince Shivaji Maratha Boarding House's College of Architecture (08 Nov 2019).
What should I read with Section 3 of the Architects Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 25 (Qualification for entry in register), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 5 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. 2 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations 1983 (1983), then Council of Architecture Rules 1973 (1973).
When did Section 3 of the Architects Act come into force?
Section 3 of the Architects Act, cited as Architects Act 1972 3, came into force on 02 Apr 1973, having been enacted on 31 May 1972. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 44. Power of Central Government to make rules400 words
- 45. Power of Council to make regulations397 words
- 20. Withdrawal of recognition352 words
- 24. First preparation of register342 words
- 6. Terms of office and casual vacancies264 words
- 13. Finances of Council263 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 20 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.