law: 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.