SRINAGAR: Making public participation legally enforceable, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has mandated full cooperation from citizens for the smooth conduct of Census 2027, warning of strict legal action against those who refuse to share information, deny access to officials, or furnish false details.
The notification issued by Planning, Development & Monitoring Department underscores that compliance is not optional, with provisions of the Census Act, 1948 empowering authorities to penalise violations across the Union Territory.
In exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 8(ii) of the Census Rules, 1990 readwith Circular No. 15 dated 12.03.2026 issued by the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby directs the public to cooperate in furnishing accurate and unambiguous information in respect of the questions that may be put to them in the smooth conduct of the Census 2027, reads the notification.
As per the notification, a census-officer may ask all such questions of all persons within the limits of the local area for which he is appointed as, by instructions issued in this behalf by the Central Government and published in the Official Gazette, he may be directed to ask.
Every person of whom any question is asked under sub-section (1) shall be legally bound to answer such question to the best of his knowledge or belief.
Provided that no person shall be bound to state the name of any female member of his household, and no woman shall be bound to state the name of her husband or deceased husband or of any other person whose name she is forbidden by custom to mention.
Every person occupying any house, enclosure, vessel or other place shall allow census-officers such access thereto as they may require for the purposes of the census and as, having regard to the customs of the country, may be reasonable, and shall allow them to paint on, or affix to, the place such letters, marks or numbers as may be necessary for the purposes of the census.
When such schedule has been so left, the said occupier, manager or officer, as the case may be, shall fill it up or cause it to be filled up to the best of his knowledge or belief so far as regards the inmates of such house or part thereof or the persons employed under him, as the case maybe, at the time aforesaid, and shall sign his name thereto and, when so required, shall deliver the schedule so filled up and signed to the census-officer or to such person as the census-officer may direct.
Any census-officer or any person lawfully required to give assistance towards the taking of census who refuses to perform any duty imposed upon him by this Act or any rule made there under, or any person who hinders or obstructs another person in performing any such duty, or.
any person who intentionally gives a false answer to, or refuses to answer to the best of his knowledge or belief, any question asked of him by a census officer which he is legally bound by section 8 to answer.
No person shall have a right to inspect any book, register or record made by census- officer in the discharge of his duty as such, or any schedule delivered under section 10, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023(47 of 2023), no entry in any such book, register, record or schedule shall be admissible as evidence in any civil proceeding whatsoever or in any criminal proceeding other than a prosecution under this Act or any other law for any act or omission which constitutes an offence under this Act.
