The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by North Central Zone Insurance Employees, upholding the decision to engage LIC employees for census work.
Justice Dinesh Pathak said the authority/zonal officer did not commit any error or illegality in issuing orders for LIC employees to discharge census duties.
The petitioner argued that employees of LIC do not fall within the definition of 'local authorities' and therefore entrustment of census duties is 'wholly unsustainable'.
However, the Union government's counsel contended that section 4-A of the census Act, 1948 cannot be read in isolation and has to be construed conjointly with other sections, which contemplate engagement of employees of factories, firms and establishments for census work.
The court ruled that the Authorized Authority/Zonal Officer is competent to issue orders commanding LIC employees to act as enumerators/supervisors for census work.
