Allahabad HC Shields Private School Staff from Census Duties

The Allahabad High Court has halted an order from the District Inspector of Schools in Gautam Budh Nagar mandating private school staff to assist with the Census, citing they do not qualify as 'local authorities'. The state government must respond within four weeks.

The Allahabad High Court recently intervened to protect teaching staff of private institutions in Gautam Budh Nagar from being enlisted for Census duties, emphasizing that such staff do not fall under the 'local authorities' category as defined by the Census Act of 1948.

In a decision that has garnered attention, Justice Siddharth Nandan highlighted that the obligation to provide staff for Census operations rests with recognized local authorities such as the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (B.S.A.), District Inspector of Schools (D.I.O.S.), and District Panchayat Raj Officers (D.P.R.O.).

The high court ruling followed a petition by the 'Independent Self Financed Schools Association', challenging the DIOS's directive. Private institutions are not considered government entities or subsidiaries, thus not obligated under the Census Act's local authority provisions.