India, May 26 -- While observing that the employees of aided and unaided private teaching institutions cannot be made liable for any task under the Census Act, 1948, the Allahabad High Court has stayed the order of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Gautam Budh Nagar, by which he sought the list of all teaching and non-teaching staff working in all aided and unaided institutions for Census purpose. The court also asked the State Government to file a counter-affidavit within four weeks.

Justice Siddharth Nandan observed, "This Court prima facie finds that the teaching and non-teaching staff of private institutions, whether aided or unaided, cannot be said to fall within the purview of 'local authorities', ie, the BSA, DIOS, and the...