Central

Section 7H of The Census Act, 1948

Penalty for contravention of any order regarding requisitioning.

1[7H. Penalty for contravention of any order regarding requisitioning.-- If any person contravenes any order made under section 7A or section 7C, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.]

Summary

It is a punishable offense to disobey an order regarding census property requisitioning.
This penalty applies to anyone who contravenes an order made under Section 7A (taking over property) or Section 7C (obtaining information).
The punishment can be imprisonment for a term up to one year.
Alternatively, the punishment can be a fine, or a combination of both a fine and imprisonment.

Practical examples

1A bus company owner hides his buses after receiving a valid Section 7A order to provide them on May 1, 2026. A judge sentences him to six months in jail.

2A landlord refuses to give the government information about who owns a vacant building when ordered to do so under Section 7C. He is ordered by the court to pay a fine.

FAQ

1. What happens if I ignore an order to let the census use my vehicle?

You can be punished with jail time, a fine, or both.

2. How long is the maximum jail sentence for breaking a requisition order?

The imprisonment can extend up to one year.

3. Does this penalty apply if I just refuse to give information about my property?

Yes, contravening an order under Section 7C regarding information carries the exact same penalty.

Test yourself

1.Under Section 7H of The Census Act, 1948, what is the maximum term of imprisonment a person can face for contravening a requisition order?

2.Under Section 7H of The Census Act, 1948, a person can be penalized for contravening an order made under Section 7A. What does an order under Section 7A do?

3.Under Section 7H of The Census Act, 1948, besides Section 7A, contravening an order made under which other section triggers this specific penalty?

4.Under Section 7H of The Census Act, 1948, what combination of punishments is legally possible for an offender?

7GPreviousSection 7G Delegation of functions of the Central Government with regard to requisitioning.8NextSection 8 Asking of questions and obligation to answer.

←Section 7G Section 8→