Census 2027: “Record Your Real Mother Tongue,” Urges Cachar Committee

The Cachar district unit of the High Court Bench Implementation Committee has urged people across Assam to ensure that their actual mother tongue and other known languages are correctly recorded during Census 2027.

The appeal was made at an emergency meeting of the committee held at its Rupam office in Nazirpatty, Silchar, on Monday. The meeting was chaired by committee president and senior advocate Dhruva Kumar Saha.

The committee said citizens should provide their actual mother tongue without fear or influence from political leaders, public representatives, organisations or other individuals. It also urged people to provide details of other languages they know according to the prescribed census questions and official guidelines.

The committee said census data is not limited to counting the population. It creates an official database on the country’s social and linguistic characteristics, which can be used for administrative planning, education, language policy, development programmes and other government decisions.

It therefore stressed that the information provided by citizens should reflect their actual identity and circumstances.

The committee further urged citizens to remain alert when census officials visit their homes to collect information. People should check whether the information they provide, particularly regarding their mother tongue and other known languages, is being recorded accurately.

According to the committee, if any information is recorded incorrectly or differs from what a citizen has stated, the matter should be brought to the attention of the enumerator immediately. If necessary, citizens should also approach senior officials concerned.

The committee also said that any alleged deliberate alteration or distortion of information should not be ignored. Referring to the Census Act, 1948, it said violations of applicable legal provisions could have legal consequences and urged citizens to seek appropriate legal remedies if they face unlawful interference during the census process.

The committee said it would be prepared to provide necessary legal assistance in cases involving alleged unlawful pressure, obstruction, deliberate misrecording or distortion of information.

It also appealed to non-political social, cultural, linguistic and civic organisations across Assam to create awareness about Census 2027. The committee said such organisations should work independently of political interests and encourage citizens to provide accurate information and report irregularities through lawful channels.

The meeting also stressed that the initiative was not directed against any individual, political party or community. The committee said its objective was to ensure that the actual information provided by citizens is properly reflected in official census records.

Members present at the meeting included general secretary Nikhil Paul, senior advocate and adviser Prasenjit Deb, adviser Taimur Raja Choudhury, vice-president Professor Bibhas Deb, Rasraj Das, joint secretary and advocate Debomita Chakraborty, advocate Tuhina Sharma and advocate Dharmananda Deb, along with other committee members.

The committee urged people to approach Census 2027 with awareness rather than fear and to ensure that their own information, including their mother tongue and other known languages, is accurately recorded.

The press statement was issued by the publicity secretary of the Cachar district unit of the High Court Bench Implementation Committee.