Statistics Act, 2022

25. Chief Statistician: There shall be one Chief Statistician of the Gazetted Special Class of the Federal Civil Service to act as the administrative chief of the Office. Chapter-7

Offenses and Penalties

26. Offenses and Penalties: (1) If any person commits any of the following acts, he/she shall be deemed to have committed an offense under this Act:-

(a) If anyone creates an obstruction in the work of collecting statistics under this Act,

(b) If any person or institution having the duty to provide information relating to personal or unit statistics under sub-section (4) of Section 5 or sub-section (2) of Section 6 knowingly fails to provide such information, refuses to provide it, or knowingly provides false information relating to any statistic,

(c) If anyone collects or causes to collect statistics without a license under sub-section (1) of Section 8,

(d) If anyone uses statistics or publishes results thereof without certification from the Office under Section 9,

(e) If anyone, being responsible for statistics, computer database, or electronic records, negligently or knowingly destroys or causes to destroy them, or otherwise causes loss or damage or attempts to cause loss or damage,

(f) If anyone uses or causes to use available statistics, computer database, or electronic records contrary to Section 10,

(g) If the collector, producer, or user of statistics fails to fulfill their duties under sub-section (2), (3), or (4) of Section 13,

(h) If anyone uses or publishes statistics contrary to Section 14,

(i) If, after any order or notice has been issued to anyone under this Act, anyone publicizes or causes to publicize that such notice or order should not be complied with, or that any statistics or information requested by the authorized officer should not be given or made available, or puts pressure not to provide such statistics or information, or

(j) If anyone commits any other act contrary to this Act.

(2) If anyone commits an offense under sub-section (1), the following penalties shall apply:-

(a) For an offense under clause (a), a fine of up to ten thousand rupees,

(b) For an offense under clause (b), (g), or (i), a fine of up to twenty thousand rupees or imprisonment for up to six months or both,

(c) For an offense under clause (c), (d), (e), (f), or (h), a fine of up to forty thousand rupees or imprisonment for up to one year or both, and

(d) For an offense under clause (j), a fine of up to five thousand rupees or imprisonment for up to one month or both.

(3) If an institution commits an offense under this Act, and the office holder or employee committing such an offense is identified, such office holder or employee shall be penalized; if not identified, the person acting as the head of such institution at the time of the offense shall be penalized.

(4) Anyone who attempts, abets, or is an accomplice to an offense punishable under this Act shall be liable to half the penalty prescribed for such offense.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this section, if the act under sub-section (1) is also deemed an offense under other prevailing law, it shall not be deemed to prevent the filing of a separate case and imposition of penalty under such law for such offense.