Can States change ward boundaries during Census freeze? SC to hear plea

National census data collection work has begun in Thoothukudi Corporation limits. File | Photo Credit: RAJESH N

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) agreed to hear a petition questioning whether State governments can undertake a fresh delimitation of wards and alter the boundaries during an ongoing Census exercise.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant indicated listing the case on October 9 for hearing.

The petition filed by Paka Suresh, a former Mayor of the Kadapa Municipal Corporation in Andhra Pradesh, said the question of law was of general public importance concerning the conduct of Census 2027, with implications for the entire country.

Rule 8(iv) of the Census Rules 1990 requires State governments to “freeze the administrative boundaries of districts, tehsils, towns, etc.” from the date intimated by the Census Commissioner.