The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition filed by a union representing Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) employees, challenging the government's decision to deploy LIC staff for census operations. The Court held that the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990 empower authorities to appoint employees of establishments such as LIC as Enumerators and Supervisors for census work.
Background of the Case
The petition was filed by the North Central Zone Insurance Employees Union, which represents Class III and Class IV employees of LIC in the North Central Zone. The union argued that only employees of local authorities could be requisitioned for census duties under Section 4-A of the Census Act, 1948.
According to the union, LIC employees do not fall within the category of employees of local authorities and therefore could not be compelled to perform census-related work. The petitioner relied on earlier decisions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Gujarat High Court in support of its stand.
Opposing the petition, the Union of India argued that the Census Act must be read as a whole. It submitted that Sections 6 and 7 of the Act specifically allow authorities to seek assistance from employees of commercial and industrial establishments.
The government contended that LIC is a commercial establishment and its employees can legally be engaged for census activities. It also pointed to Rule 3 of the Census Rules, 1990, which permits the appointment of Enumerators from among “teachers, clerks or any official or any person.”
Justice Dinesh Pathak examined the statutory framework governing census operations and noted that Rule 3 gives authorities broad power to appoint suitable persons as Enumerators and Supervisors.
The Court observed,
“The expression ‘any official or any person’ employed in Rule 3 is of wide amplitude and cannot be restricted only to employees of local authority or government departments.”
The judge further held that Sections 6(1)(e) and 7(c) of the Census Act specifically contemplate assistance from officers and employees of establishments for census purposes. LIC, being an organized commercial establishment, falls within that framework.
Referring to an earlier Division Bench decision of the Allahabad High Court, the Court noted that LIC employees had previously been held to be covered by the term “establishment” under the Census Act.
The High Court concluded that the Zonal Officer had acted within the powers delegated under the Census Act and the Census Rules while appointing LIC employees as Enumerators and Supervisors.
Holding that the challenge lacked merit, Justice Pathak ruled that no illegality had been committed in directing LIC staff to participate in census operations. The Court also noted that the petition did not specifically challenge any individual appointment order.
Accordingly, the writ petition was dismissed without any order as to costs.
Case Details:
Case Title: North Central Zone Insurance Employees vs Union of India and 5 Others
Case Number: Writ - A No. 7210 of 2026
Judge: Justice Dinesh Pathak
Decision Date: May 29, 2026
