Gurpreet Singh :- More than 1,000 employees who failed to report for census duty in Ludhiana are likely to face police action under the Census Act, 1948. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dr Neeru Katyal Gupta has directed census officers in all four zones to initiate FIRs against staff members who did not collect their census kits despite repeated instructions.
The Commissioner has also asked heads of departments concerned to withhold the salaries of employees who abandoned census work and submit detailed reports regarding their absence.
According to officials, nearly 6,500 employees from various government departments and private institutions had been assigned census duties in the city. The staff had already undergone training sessions conducted by the Municipal Corporation. However, when employees were called to collect their kits and identity cards, over 1,000 of them failed to turn up.
Officials said senior officers, including the Municipal Commissioner, remained engaged till late at night contacting employees over phone calls. Zonal Commissioner Jasdev Singh Sekhon also personally followed up with staff members on Thursday morning regarding the distribution of kits and ID cards.
Dr Gupta said the first phase of the census involves household enumeration, with each employee assigned around 150 houses within the Municipal Corporation limits. The survey is scheduled to be conducted between May 15 and June 13.
She added that if employees cover five to six houses daily, the assigned work can be completed comfortably within the stipulated period. The Commissioner also pointed out that many residents in Ludhiana had already completed self-enumeration, yet several employees were still reluctant to perform their official responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Zonal Commissioner Jasdev Singh Sekhon warned that strict action could be taken against those refusing to participate in census work. He said failure to report for duty or abandoning work midway could invite FIRs under the Census Act, which carries provisions for punishment and fines.
Officials further stated that apart from police action, departmental proceedings could also be initiated against defaulters, potentially putting their jobs at risk. The law also applies to citizens who provide false information or obstruct census officials during the survey process.
