CM to shortly approve Rules of Collection of Statistics Act
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 14: Now concealing or suppressing any information on economic, demographic, social, educational, scientific, environmental and connected aspects, will invite fine as well as punishment as the State Government is shortly going to notify the Rules of Jammu and Kashmir Collection of Statistics Act.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that keeping in view the difficulties being faced in the collection of vital statistics relating to economic, demographic, social, educational, scientific and environmental aspects from individuals or private set-ups, which is otherwise imperative for proper planning, the State Government, about two years back, decided to make concealing or suppression of information a punishable offence by overhauling the ‘obsolete’ Act of 1961.
Accordingly, a bill was introduced in the Budget Session of 2010 by none else than the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who is also holding the portfolio of Planning and Development Department. The Bill became the Act in August 2010 and since then the exercise was going on to frame the Rules, which act as beacon light for the implementation of any piece of legislation.
Now, after two years the Rules duly vetted by the Law Department have been placed before the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who is likely to accord his approval within next few days in order to ensure collection of required statistics for proper planning in the State, sources said.
Under the Act and Rules, informant is any person, who is required to supply statistical information and includes an owner or occupier or person incharge or his authorized representative in respect of persons or a firm registered under State Partnership Act, 1996, Cooperative Societies Act, 1989, Self-Reliant Cooperatives Act, 1999, company registered under the Companies Act, 1956, society registered under Societies Registration Act, 1998 or any association recognized or registered under any law.
“Any officer or official appointed by the Government for the purpose of collection of any statistics will have access to any relevant record or document in the possession of any informant and may enter at any reasonable time any premises where he believes such record is kept. He may inspect or take copies of relevant records or documents or ask any question necessary for obtaining any information required to be furnished under the Act”, sources said.
The Act and Rules also empower the officer to seek information through tele-fax, telephone and e-mail. However, any information furnished to the officer will only be used for statistical purposes only.
“Whosoever fails to produce any book or accounts, vouchers, documents or other business records or refuses to supply the particulars required in any information schedule will be punishable with a fine up to Rs 2000. In case of a company, the fine will be up to Rs 10,000″, sources said, adding “in case of refusal of information after stipulated time-frame of 14 days, a fine of Rs 500 per day will be imposed on individuals and Rs 1000 on the company”.
In case of false information or misleading statement, the informant will be liable for simple imprisonment for a term up to 6 months or with a fine up to Rs 2000. Even penalties have been fixed for destroying the information schedule form and obstructing information seeker, sources said.
In order to avoid undue harassment of the informants at the hands of officers and officials nominated to collect the information, a provision has been kept to ensure secrecy of the information gathered or entered in the information schedules, sources said, adding “if any officer divulges the contents of any schedule filled in or any information furnished by any informant, he will be punished with simple imprisonment for a term up to six months. Even penalty has been fixed for those who will dare to collect information by resorting to impersonation”.
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