The CPI(M) seeks the intervention of the President to ensure withdrawal of the amendments to the Census Rule

MA Baby Speech at Press Conference October 12, 2026 | Photo credit: PTI

Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary MA Baby has urged President Droupadi Murma to intervene and ask the Union government to withdraw amendments to the Census Rules that allow private individuals to be hired as census commissioners, warning that such an amendment to the rules could lead to “arbitrary and politically motivated appointments”.

The amended rules enable teachers from aided and unaided private educational institutions, employees of institutions, societies and trusts, as well as officers and administrative staff of public sector undertakings, statutory bodies, banks and companies to be engaged in the census work. They also empower the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to appoint any person they think fit.

In a letter to the President, Mr. Baby said, “It raises serious questions about selection criteria, impartiality of appointees and safeguards against partisan interference. The freedom given to state governments and Union Territory administrations without clearly specified criteria or publicly accountable safeguards creates considerable scope for arbitrary and politically motivated appointments.”

Noting that the census involves the collection of extensive personal information, he argued that people may be reluctant to share such information with census takers whom they do not trust.

“In the given political climate, the concern that the information they provide is used to politically profile them, target specific communities, challenge their citizenship or exclude them from their legitimate rights and entitlements is real,” Mr Baby said.

Mr Baby also expressed concern over the information required in the census questionnaire, including parents’ religion, bank account details, Aadhaar and other identification documents, passport details and mobile numbers. He said the census must not become another SIR and must not become “a tool for tracking, determining citizenship or electoral exclusion”.

Describing the census as a national exercise that “belongs to the people of India”, Mr Baby called on the President as the constitutional head of the republic to intervene and urge the Union government to withdraw the amendments and ensure that the exercise is conducted in accordance with constitutional principles and public trust.

Published – 20 Oct 2026 18:47 IST