New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday approved a Bill that seeks to extend jurisdiction of the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, to Jammu and Kashmir on matters pertaining to statistics under Union and Concurrent lists.
“The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a proposal to introduce a Bill in Parliament to extend the jurisdiction of the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, to Jammu and Kashmir on statistics relevant to any matters under any of the entries specified in the List-I (Union List) and the List-III (Concurrent List) in the 7th Schedule… as applicable to Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954,” a statement said.
According to the statement, the amendment will strengthen data collection mechanism in the state. It will also provide for extending the jurisdiction of the Act to Jammu and Kashmir in respect of matters not reserved for the state as per the Constitution Order, 1954.
Moreover, it envisages appointment of a nodal officer at the Centre and in each state and Union Territory to effectively coordinate data collection activities and provide consultation to government departments for avoiding unnecessary duplication.
The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, was enacted to facilitate the collection of statistics on economics, demographics, social, scientific and environmental aspects and the like.
The Act extends to the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir. The Jammu & Kashmir state legislature has enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Collection of Statistics Act, 2010, which extends to the whole of the state and is almost a replica of the central legislation.
The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, and the Jammu and Kashmir Collection of Statistics Act, 2010, are not applicable to statistical subjects falling in the Union List, as applicable to the Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution Order, 1954.
This has created a legislative vacuum. Moreover, the concurrent jurisdiction to be exercised by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir has also not been provided for. The amendment is intended to address this vacuum, it added.