Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 20 May: The Directorate of Census Operations in Uttarakhand has directed all the in-charge officers to initiate strict legal action against people found to be obstructing the ongoing house listing operations under Census 2027. The directive makes it clear that if any person refuses to provide information, creates disturbance in government work or shows non-cooperation with census staff, an FIR will be registered under the Census Act, 1948 and legal proceedings will follow. The order has stirred administrative circles, reflecting the seriousness with which the government is treating such complaints.
It may be recalled that recently, several incidents have been reported from Dehradun and other parts of the state where census staff faced resistance and misbehaviour from the residents. In some places, the residents refused to open their doors, forcing the enumerators to wait outside for hours. A few disturbing cases even involved the pet dogs being unleashed on staff and street dogs attacking them, creating fear and insecurity among the workforce. The government has now taken these complaints seriously and moved to enforce accountability.
The Directorate has emphasised that house listing is a nationally significant exercise and must be completed within the stipulated timeframe. Reports have surfaced of people avoiding disclosure of correct information, denying entry to enumerators and even erasing census numbers marked on houses. The officials assert that such actions not only disrupt the process but also cause unnecessary delays in the entire census campaign.
The government has clarified that under the Census Act, 1948, every citizen is legally bound to provide accurate information to census staff and cooperate in the process. The officers have been instructed to first sensitise people about their legal obligations, but if deliberate obstruction continues, immediate cases will be registered under Section 11 of the Act. Police stations have also been directed to act promptly in such matters.
The authorities have reiterated that census is not merely a statistical exercise but the foundation of future development planning. Data on population, housing, resources and social structures form the basis for government schemes and budget allocations. Wrong information or non-cooperation directly affects policy-making and development programmes. With this directive, the administration has signalled that any negligence or obstruction in census work will now be treated as a serious offence and dealt with firmly.
