Census officials threaten prosecution to get facts

Pawan Kotwal, Administrator, Jammu Municipality, who is also the Principal Census Officer, admitted that enumerators faced such problems in some areas but was quick to add that people had later started cooperating.

So what made people cooperate? Apparently, it was the “threat” of prosecution under Section 11 of the Census Act 1948, according to which people refusing to answer questions asked by a Census officer were liable for punishment, including a fine of upto Rs 1,000 and up to three year’s imprisonment.

Based on such complaints by respective zonal officers, cases were registered against the some residents of Nitco Lane and Gandhi Nagar.“Such a step was taken to `threaten’ people to divulge exact information. We also served legal notices to the concerned defaulters and told them that in case they fail to adhere to Act’s requirements, challans will be presented in the court of law,” Kotwal informed. “This made people to furnish information,” he claimed.

When contacted by The Indian Express, some residents in Talab Tillo area said: “We tried to hide as much information as we could.” A woman requesting anonymity said: “Instead of categorically refusing to answer to their questions, this time we offered a cup of tea to Census officers and answered questions as per our convenience.”

And it was not just here that the Census Department resorted to raise the legal arm to get the job done. In Banihal too they adopted similar tactics. The only difference being that there, they lodged an FIR under Section 187 of the RPC against Census officials for evading national duty! The employees there had boycotted the Census duty following threats by militant groups like the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Toiba against taking part in Census operations.

The Jammu and Kashmir government, in order to restore confidence among the employees, had assured them of full security during the Census but employees had rejected the offer fearing militants’ action once the security cover was removed.

Despite best efforts the government failed to woo the employees to join Census duty which had to be postponed twice and were left with no option but to announce prosecution of employees not participating in Census duty.

Fearing police action, employees in Banihal reported for enumeration duty, but have yet to do field work. The fear of the gun still continues to loom large. It is said that some senior officers even suggested that they fill out forms without venturing out. “This way both government and militants will remain happy,” they are believed to have advised the enumerators, thus putting a question mark on the authenticity and feasibility of the gigantic operation.