The Congress government has embarked on a house-to-house survey, promising to document the census data of people across all communities in the state. Officials have assured that the data collected will serve as a foundation for delivering social justice and implementing appropriate reservations. However, suspicions linger about whether this survey report will be publicly disclosed.
The skepticism arises from past experiences across states. Caste-based surveys have been conducted in several states, but due to legal and constitutional challenges, the results have often remained undisclosed. Sociologists point out that a similar effort—the Comprehensive Family Survey conducted by the Telangana government in 2014—collected detailed data on 1.3 crore families, covering aspects like caste, socio-economic status, education, and employment. Yet, despite its comprehensive nature, the report was never released to the public due to legal restrictions.
In other states, similar outcomes have unfolded. Karnataka conducted a caste survey in 2015, yet the findings have not been made public. Bihar’s government under Nitish Kumar conducted a caste census and, based on the results, raised Backward Class (BC) reservation quotas to 69 percent—a decision currently entangled in a Supreme Court dispute. Meanwhile, a caste survey conducted in Andhra Pradesh has faced legal challenges and political scrutiny.
Under the Census Act of 1948, only the central government is authorized to conduct an official census every ten years, as per constitutional guidelines. While the 2021 Census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the legal authority over census data remains exclusively with the central government. For these official censuses, the Center issues notifications, appoints officers, and ensures that the data collected is made publicly available. State governments lack the authority to carry out such censuses independently.
However, the Collection of Statistics Act, enacted in 2008, allows both central and state governments, as well as local entities, to conduct surveys on social, economic, scientific, and other specific aspects. This act provides a legal framework for surveys but does not extend to official census data.
Surveys conducted under this act must follow strict guidelines, including appointing nodal officers, and must involve central government oversight for public release of data. The Center must approve any regulations formulated from these surveys, ensuring central participation.
Observers and sociologists have raised concerns that Telangana’s current house-to-house survey may also face similar legal and procedural roadblocks. Critics argue that the Congress government is proceeding with a comprehensive data collection effort without the safeguards required under the 2008 Statistics Collection Act.
Specifically, an expert committee has not been appointed to oversee the process, and the state Planning Board has been assigned as the nodal department without a designated nodal officer. The survey, including its questionnaire, appears to be administered solely by government bureaucrats. These deviations from protocol could lead to legal disputes, rendering the survey’s results unusable.