The Kerala High Court has directed the Central Government to take appropriate action on a contentious survey conducted by a US-based company in collaboration with an Indian firm. The survey, which has sparked concerns over national security and inter-religious harmony, was carried out by Princeton Survey Research Associates (PSRA) from the US, with facilitation by Indian partner Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS India).

During a hearing on a petition filed by TNS India, the court expressed astonishment at the involvement of a foreign firm in conducting a survey containing “dubious” questions. Highlighting the risks posed by such activities, the court noted that the survey could have serious implications for the country’s security and unity.

“It is surprising to see that a foreign company is conducting a survey in our country with a bunch of suspicious questions. Our country is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic,” the court observed, underscoring that no foreign entity should conduct surveys in India without prior approval from the Central Government.

The survey, conducted in 54 locations across India, included questions of a sensitive nature, particularly in Thiruvananthapuram. Reports indicate that some of the questions created unrest within the Muslim community, prompting the Kerala Police to register a case under Section 153B(1)(c) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to making statements prejudicial to national integration. The police also invoked Section 34 of the IPC, which deals with criminal acts committed by multiple persons.

According to PSRA, the survey’s stated aim was to assist clients in understanding the traditions, values, and attitudes of India. However, the Kerala Police’s preliminary investigation suggests that the survey’s underlying intent might have been to incite emotional conflicts among religious communities, particularly targeting the Muslim population, thereby threatening communal harmony.

The court stressed that an investigation by the state police alone would not suffice, given the gravity of the issue. It ordered the findings of the Kerala Police to be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs within a month for further examination.

The court also expressed its concerns over the oversight of foreign companies engaging in sensitive research within India, calling for stricter regulation to prevent potential misuse.

TNS India, which filed the petition seeking to quash the case against it, argued that the survey was intended for socio-political research. However, the court maintained that the survey’s questions could have significant ramifications for national unity and the secular fabric of the country.

The matter continues to be under close scrutiny, raising critical questions about the regulatory framework for foreign-linked surveys and their potential impact on India’s societal harmony.