Tamil Nadu Assembly Session: The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday urging the central government to conduct a caste-based census soon. The resolution, introduced by Chief Minister M K Stalin, emphasised that the central government should immediately begin the overdue census work from 2021, incorporating a caste-based population census this time.
"This House considers that caste-based population census is essential to formulate policies in order to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities in education, economy and employment to every citizen of India," the resolution stated.
Legislators from various political parties, including the BJP, supported the resolution, which was adopted by the House. This occurred in the absence of the principal opposition AIADMK members, who were suspended from the Assembly for disrupting proceedings.
Speaker M Appavu said the resolution was adopted unanimously.
Central government empowered d to conduct population census
While moving the resolution, Stalin said that only the union government has the authority to conduct the population census, as per Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948.
The Chief Minister said that although the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, allows state governments to gather data on the socio-economic status of the population, Section 3, Part A of the Act restricts state governments from collecting data on communities listed under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
“It is not possible to collect census data under the Collection of Statistics Act. The only option is the conduct of Population Census by the Union Government. That’s why we insist that the caste census should be conducted by the Centre,” he added.
PMK terms move 'unnecessary'
Speaking on the resolution, PMK MLA R Arul termed the move as 'unnecessary' as the state government has powers to conduct caste census. His party favoured caste-wise census, he added.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Edappadi K Palaniswami claimed that his government had initiated the process in 2020 but could not complete the task due to change of regime.
“The AIADMK government (under him) issued a government order on December 20, 2020, for caste-based census and commenced the work. We even constituted a commission under a retired judge,” the former Chief Minister told reporters outside the Assembly.
(With PTI inputs)
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