Census Act, 1948
8.Asking of questions and obligation to answer:-
(1) A census-officer may ask all such
questions of all persons within the limits of the local area for which he is
appointed as, by instructions issued in this behalf by the State Government and
of published in the Official Gazette, he may be directed to ask.
(2) Every person of whom any question is asked under subsection (1) shall be
legally bound to answer such question to the best of his knowledge or belief:
Provided that no person shall be bound to state the name of any female
member of his household, and no woman shall be bound
to state the name of her husband or deceased husband or of any other person
whose name she is forbidden by custom to mention.