The East Punjab Enumeration of Dwellings Act, 1948

[1948 . gast Pb. Act XXIV] ENUMERATION OF 225 DWELLINGS AST PUNJ. AB ENUMERATION O THEE ACT, 1948. FDWELLINGS TABLE OF CONTENTS. ge ctions- 9 1.

In this Act “dwelling house” means a building or structure used or constructed or adapted to be used wholly or principally for human habitation and includes any part of a house where that part is separately occupied for such habitation.

(1) The Central Government may appoint an Enumeration Commissioner to supervise the making of the enumeration of dwelling houses throughout the State. (2) The Central Government may, by general or special order, appoint as many enumeration officers as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out or supervise the making of the enumeration in such local areas as may be specified. (3) Central Government may delegate to such authority as it thinks fit the power of appointing enumeration officers conferred by sub-section (2).

The Enumeration Commissioner and all enumeration officers shall be public servants within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The District Magistrate or the enumeration officer for any local area may by written order which shall have effect throughout the extent of his district or of such local area, as the case may be, call upon all members of district, municipal, panchayat and other local authorities and officers and servants of such authorities, to give such assistance as shall be specified in the order towards the making of the enumeration within the areas for which such local authorities are established, and the persons to whom such order is directed shall be bound to obey it and shall while acting in pursuance of such order be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Every person occupying a dwelling house or other place shall allow enumeration officers such access thereto as may be reasonable and shall allow them to paint on, or affix to, the dwelling-house or place such letters, marks or numbers as may be necessary for the purpose.

(a) Any enumeration officer who knowingly makes any false return. (b) Any person occupying any dwelling house or place who refuses to allow any enumeration officer such reasonable access thereto as he is required by section 6 to allow. (c) Any person who removes, obliterates or alters any letters, marks or numbers which shall have been painted or affixed for the purpose of the enumeration, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.

Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to prevent any person from being prosecuted under any other law for any act or omission which constitutes an offence under this Act: Provided that no such prosecution shall be instituted except with the previous sanction referred to in section 8.

No court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the Second Class shall try, whether under this Act, or under any other law, anything which constitutes an offence under this Act.

All records or registers made under this Act or the rules made thereunder shall be deemed to be public documents within the meaning of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

(1) The Central Government may make rules for carrying out the purpose of this Act. (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the Central Government may make rules providing for the appointment of enumeration officers and persons to perform any of the duties of enumeration officers or to give assistance in the making of the enumeration, and for the general instructions to be issued to such officers and persons.