PUCL alleges pressure to manipulate census data, demands independent inquiry

By A Representative 

The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has expressed serious concern over alleged attempts to manipulate data collected during the ongoing Census House Listing Operations (HLO), calling the reported practices a threat to constitutional rights, democratic representation, and welfare planning.

In a press statement, the civil liberties organisation cited a report published in The Hindu, which alleged that enumerators in Rajasthan and other states were being pressured by senior officials to alter information gathered during the census exercise. According to PUCL, such actions undermine the integrity of the census process and could distort the lived realities of millions of citizens.

PUCL argued that the census is not merely a statistical exercise but a critical instrument that shapes welfare policies, resource allocation, infrastructure planning, and future delimitation of parliamentary constituencies. The organisation said that any falsification of census data would amount to a violation of citizens' rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

The organisation claimed that testimonies from enumerators, school teachers, anganwadi workers, and other field personnel revealed widespread gaps between official claims and ground realities. Among the issues reportedly documented were households lacking toilets, piped drinking water, electricity, internet access, and clean cooking fuel despite government schemes claiming near-universal coverage. PUCL also alleged that some enumerators were instructed to reclassify housing conditions and sanitation practices in ways that would present a more favourable picture of government welfare programmes.

Particular concern was raised over a June 2, 2026 communication issued by the Director of Census Operations, Rajasthan, directing officials to verify and correct discrepancies in census data. PUCL contended that, when viewed alongside reports from enumerators alleging pressure not to record information that could reflect poorly on government performance, the communication appeared to provide institutional backing for data manipulation.

The organisation criticised instructions reportedly given to enumerators to avoid classifying households as practising open defecation if residents had access to neighbouring toilets or public facilities, describing the practice as an attempt to artificially validate official claims regarding sanitation coverage.

PUCL further expressed concern about the conditions under which enumerators are conducting the census. It noted that many frontline workers, including teachers and anganwadi personnel, are using their personal mobile phones to carry out digital enumeration despite poor connectivity in rural and tribal areas and what it described as inadequate reimbursement for data expenses. The organisation said these challenges, combined with regular official duties, have compromised the quality and independence of the exercise.

Warning that inaccurate census data could have long-term consequences for welfare targeting, fiscal allocations, and democratic representation, PUCL said the "invisible poor" have a right to be accurately counted and represented in official records.

The organisation has demanded an immediate end to any instructions encouraging alteration of data collected by enumerators, as well as a transparent and independent inquiry into the Rajasthan communication and related directives. It has also called for protection of enumerators who have raised concerns about alleged pressure, the establishment of an independent oversight mechanism involving civil society and statistical experts, and a public assurance from the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India that census data will reflect ground realities rather than government programme targets.

Additionally, PUCL has sought improved logistical and financial support for census workers, including adequate reimbursement for digital data usage and relief from concurrent official responsibilities during the enumeration process.

The statement was issued by PUCL National President Kavita Srivastava, National General Secretary V. Suresh, Rajasthan President Anant Bhatnagar, and Rajasthan General Secretaries Rajesh Choudhury and Pragnya Joshi.