History

Archives are the outcome of the retirement of non- current records of the Government embodying experiences of the people who built up history. They are preserved for posterity because of their continual utility for the necessary governmental process, for protection of public and private rights and above all for research by scholars and historians. On the basis of records, Government plans can be chalked out successfully. Archives provide material to write history and find facts of the written history.

The main Function of Haryana State Archive is to acquire, service and preserve for posterity, public and private records of historical, administrative, political, economic, social and cultural value and also to coordinate and guide all operations connected with public records in respect of their administration, preservation and elimination with a view to ensure that records of permanent value are not destroyed. The Department tape records memoirs of freedom fighters and eminent persons of the State and promote historical research and studies.

At the time of re-organization of Panjab and creation of Haryana on 1st November, 1966 there was no independent Archives in Haryana and therefore, no specific attention could be paid towards the Public and Private records in the State. An Archaeological cell was created in 1969 to look after Archaeological and Archival interests in the State under Education Department. A skeleton staff consisting of 7 posts for setting up of Haryana State Archives vide letter No.2005-Edu.II(6E)-73/35548 dated 12.12.1973 was sanctioned. Undoubtedly some of these posts were filled up as early as in 1974, but the post of Deputy Director Archives could only be filled up by taking an officer on deputation from National Archives of India in September, 1975 and Haryana State Archives became an independent Department in 1976.

Since its inception the Department is making a rapid progress. With increase of work and bulk of records its two Regional Repositories were opened at Hisar and Ambala in 1986. Thereafter with creation of two more divisions, two more Regional Repositories were opened at Rohtak and Gurgaon in the year 1997. However due to administrative hiccups the Regional Repository of Guragaon has to be shifted in Mini Secretriat building at Rohtak in 2014. The detail of the posts sanctioned for Headquarter as well as for Regional Repositories are given at Annexure-I.

The Department of Archives functions under the administrative control of the Commissioner and secretary to Government of Haryana, Archives Department and the Director is Head of Department, both belong to the Indian Administrative Service. All the archival activities of the department are looked after by the Deputy Director Archives, who is the head of the Office. A chart showing posts held by various officers from time to time is given at Annexure II.

The headquarters of the Archives Department is located in Sinchai Bhawan, B-Bolck, 4th Floor, Sector-5, Panchkula. Besides headquarter office, the Department has three Regional Repositories at Divisional level i.e. Ambala, Hisar, and Rohtak with the Assistant Directors as the Head of the Offices.