NEW DELHI: In order to strengthen the data collection mechanism in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, a bill on collection of statistical data in Jammu and Kashmir was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
D V Sadananda Gowda, union statistics and programme and Implementation minister said that It will provide for extending the jurisdiction of the Act to the state in respect of matters not reserved for the state as per the Constitution Order, 1954.
The amendment is intended to address a legislative vacuum as there are separate Acts for the whole of India and the State on collection of statistical data.
The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, was enacted to facilitate the collection of statistics on economics, demographics, social, scientific and environmental aspects. The Act extends to the whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir legislature had enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Collection of Statistics Act, 2010, which extends to the whole state and is almost a replica of the central legislation. But, it is not applicable to statistical subjects falling in the Union List, as applicable to the Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution Order, 1954. This had created a legislative vacuum.