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.