Appointment of census staff
Section 4 of the Census Act, 1948 deals with appointment of census staff. The Central Government may appoint a Census Commissioner to supervise the taking of the census throughout the area in which the census is intended to be taken, and [Directors of Census Operations] to supervise the taking of the census within the several States. The Act came into force on 03 Sep 1948.
(1) The Central Government may appoint a Census Commissioner to supervise the taking of the census throughout the area in which the census is intended to be taken, and 1[Directors of Census Operations] to supervise the taking of the census within the several States.
(2) The State Government may appoint persons as census-officers 2[with such designations as that Government may deem necessary] to take, or aid in or supervise the taking of, the census within any specified local area and such persons, when so appointed, shall be bound to serve accordingly.
(3) A declaration in writing, signed by any authority authorised by the State Government in this behalf, that any person has been duly appointed a census-officer for any local area shall be conclusive proof of such appointment.
(4) The State Government may delegate to such authority as it thinks fit the power of appointing census-officers conferred by sub-section (2).
Section 4, The Census Act, 1948 (Act 37 of 1948).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Questions about Section 4
What does Section 4 of the Census Act deal with?
Section 4 of the Census Act is headed "Appointment of census staff". The Central Government may appoint a Census Commissioner to supervise the taking of the census throughout the area in which the census is intended to be taken, and [Directors of Census Operations] to supervise the taking of the census within the several States.
How do I find court cases under Section 4 of the Census Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Census Act 1948 4, section 4 Census Act 1948, section 4 of the Census Act. People searching for it also type census act 1948 section 4 and census act 1948 section 4a. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 4 of the Census Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 2: most recently Notification Regarding Appointment Of Census Officers (2025), then Census Rule 1990(with amendments) (2018).
When did Section 4 of the Census Act come into force?
Section 4 of the Census Act, cited as Census Act 1948 4, came into force on 03 Sep 1948, having been enacted on 03 Sep 1948. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 7B. Payment of compensation453 words
- 11. Penalties427 words
- 7F. Release of premises from requisition286 words
- 18. Power to make rules269 words
- 6. Discharge of duties of census-officers in certain cases261 words
- 10. Occupier or manager to fill up schedule215 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 16 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.