The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) issued notices to the authorities in Punjab following concerns over the use of caste-related terminology in an official list created for the forthcoming Census operations in the state.
The Commission has initiated an investigation under the powers granted to it by Article 338 of the Constitution of India. Notices have been directed to the Director of Census Operations and the Principal Secretary of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment in Punjab. Both officials have been instructed to provide a detailed Action Taken Report within 15 days.
In the notice, the Commission emphasized the need for accountability, requesting a report within the specified timeframe. It warned that failure to respond could lead to actions akin to those taken by a civil court under Article 338. Additionally, the Commission mentioned it could issue summons for personal or representative appearances before it.
In related updates, the self-enumeration period in Punjab, which ran from April 30 to May 14, has concluded. The Census will proceed with a door-to-door exercise divided into two phases. The first phase, titled House Listing and House Enumeration, will occur from May 15 to June 13, during which enumerators will ask households 33 questions regarding their living conditions and amenities.
The subsequent phase, focusing on Population Enumeration, is set for February 9 to February 28, 2027. This will be India’s 16th Census and the eighth since the country gained independence. The last census was conducted in 2011, while the 2021 count was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
